Sydenhams League (Wessex) Division One

‘The Blues catch a cold’

PETERSFIELD TOWN (0) 2-1 (0) AMESBURY TOWN
(Rudling 76, Hounslow 83) (Finnigan 62)

On a bitterly cold afternoon in front of a large crowd the Blues froze after taking the lead and conceded two goals in a seven minute period to slip to a disappointing defeat at Petersfield. With skipper Neil Sole missing, Ben Pryce switched to centre half and Danny Finnigan partnered Nic Turpin up front. They nearly took an early lead with what would have been the flukiest goal of the season when Petersfield keeper Lloyd Patilla came to the edge of his box to kick the ball clear but it cannoned off Blues captain Dean Bowden and just cleared the cross bar much to Patilla’s relief. The early part of the game contained numerous ‘niggly’ incidents and Blues winger Craig Wheeler limped off the field just before the half hour mark following an unpunished challenge and he was replaced by Dave Mariner. Danny Harrison was called upon to make a good save from a Petersfield free kick on the edge of the area as he got down well to his right to claim the ball near the foot of the goal post. The home side were now just about running a largely scrappy game and Aaron Fennemore’s shot from wide on the right just cleared Harrison’s cross bar. At the other end Nathan Jones burst into the box from the right and looked to have been tripped from behind but the referee decided otherwise. It could be said that the ‘penalty appeals’ were levelled up later in the half as Chris Smith challenged a Petersfield player in the box and the stricken forward went to ground but, again, the appeals for a spot kick fell on deaf ears. Both sides were relieved to hear the half time whistle and seek the solace of the dressing room. The Blues upped their game in the second half and a period of pressure on the home side’s defence eventually paid dividends. A succession of corners led to Bowden forcing Patilla into a fingertip save, then Bowden’s next in swinging corner beat the keeper and Finnigan managed to get the last touch on the ball before it crossed the line. The home defence claimed that the ball in fact had gone over the bar but the goal was awarded to give the Blues a slightly undeserving lead. The Petersfield forwards must have all left their shooting boots in their Christmas stockings as they really should have made more of their chances to score but they put that to rights in a seven minute spell. Firstly Adam Rudling levelled the scores with a low shot from inside of the box and they nearly scored a second moments later but a brave goal line clearance by Pryce and a wonderful save from Harrison kept the scores level. They were not to be denied though and Scott Hounslow curled a superb left foot strike from 25 yards into the top corner of the Blues goal for the winning goal. Harrison had no chance whatsoever with the strike, the proverbial goal to win a game by.

Peters Lloyd Patilla – Nick Clark (sub Eddie Emery 72), Calvin Swain (capt), Nick Tayler, Sam Game – Aaron Fennemore, Leighton Jones, Luke Bishop, Scott Hounslow – Gavin Keogh, Adam Rudling
Subs not used James Tiffin, Steve Tec, Barry Keogh, Joe Twiddy
Colours Red & Black Stripes, Black Shorts, Black Socks

BLUES Danny Harrison – Mark Johnson, Chris Smith, Ben Pryce, Lee Bartlett (sub Grant Thirkell 81) – Nathan Jones, Lance Cooper, Dean Bowden (capt), Craig Wheeler (sub Dave Mariner 28) – Nic Turpin, Danny Finnigan
Subs not used Shaun Bartlett, Alex Thompson
Booked Wheeler, Johnson, Finnigan, Jones
Colours Blue & White Quarters, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks

Referee Krasimir Petrov (Portsmouth)
Assistants Steve Wyatt (Petersfield), Paula Wyatt (Petersfield)

Attendance 120

Blues Man of Match Ben Pryce