Division One - Bemerton Heath Harlequins 3 Petersfield Town 0 (05/02/22)

With Bemerton top of the pile and having amassed more than twice the points of their opponents, this looked like a home banker on paper. Ultimately that proved to be the case but only after an even first half in which Bemerton struggled to create chances.

The home side started the brighter with early chances falling to George Bennett and Dan Young but both shots were off target. Petersfield grew into the game and after 20 minutes they had the ball in the net but a header by Brandon Jewell was flagged offside. Shortly after Aaron Akoman-Ehikpa shot wide for the visitors.

Bemerton fielded an experienced strike force in Rudi Plummer & Justin Bennett but the only significant goalmouth action from either player in the first half came when the latter's powerful shot was straight at Petersfield keeper, Tim Jackson.

Before the half finished Petersfield had two notable chances to open the scoring. First a shot by Marvin Orepo was blocked on the line then Akoman-Ehikpa failed to control a bouncing ball and his shot went over the bar. HT 0-0

Bemerton took the game away from Petersfield in the early stages of the second half. Dan Young had been the home side's most dangerous attacker and when he attempted a shot on 52 minutes, the ball skewed away to Cameron ROACH who was able to slide the ball into an empty goal from 6 yards.

On 57 minutes Bemerton doubled their lead as YOUNG cut in from the left and shot. Possibly unsighted, Jackson dived to save but was too late to keep the ball out. Petersfield were struggling at this point though midfielder Paul Agbeseyi worked his socks off to hold things together.

On 72 minutes Bemerton put the game out of reach as a ball broke to Jake BURGESS on the edge of the penalty area and he rifled a shot home to make it 3-0. Bemerton were now comfortably in control and Paddy Creese in the home goal did not have a save to make in the whole of the second half.

In the end a solid performance but with four games still to play against promotion rivals the Harlequins will need to up their game particularly after their first half performance here.