Long trip proves pointless for Petersfield

Rams manager Ian Saunders was disappointed to come away with nothing from a game that was closer than the final scoreline suggested.

‘It is all about fine lines at this level and things went against us at wrong times,’ said Saunders.

‘We felt we should have had two stonewall penalties denied and they should have had a player sent off for deliberate handball.

‘St Ives were far more clinical than us and that was the difference.

‘At the moment, we are being punished for small mistakes but it is all part of the learning curve.’

Petersfield opened brightly and had a chance to take an early lead.

A Joe Briggs cross picked out Howard Neighbour who toe-poked his effort wide of the target.

After 10 minutes, Ollie Bailey turned his defender inside the home area only to be hauled down.

The visitors’ penalty claims, however, fell on deaf ears and on 20 minutes the home side hit them with a sucker punch.

In their first real attack, St Ives opened the scoring after the Rams were caught out by a long ball over the top.

Saunders said: ‘When we got to half-time trailing by just the one goal I was confident we could go out and give it a real go.

‘Their last defender then handled the ball to prevent us going clear but again the referee failed to award anything.

‘Within two minutes, St Ives go up the other end and leave us chasing the game with their second goal.

‘Ollie Bailey was denied another penalty and they killed us off with a breakaway third goal.

‘That is two consecutive away defeats with seven goals against and none scored.

‘It looks bad on paper but both games were far more competitive than suggests.’