Rams keen to bounce back from Royals defeat

The Rams crashed out of the Russell Cotes Cup on Tuesday night when they lost 3-1 at Wessex League premier division side AFC Portchester.

It had looked like Petersfield were going to extend their winning run of form at half-time as they led 1-0 at the interval but a poor second-half showing consigned them to defeat at the hands of the Royals.

Tomorrow they travel to Ware (3pm) looking to continue an unbeaten league run which stretches back four matches to December 12 – and if the game goes ahead, it will be Petersfield’s first league action since January 23.

‘We can have few complaints about the result at Portchester in the cup,’ said Rams boss Ian Saunders.

‘We just weren’t good enough, especially during the second half, and I have apologised to our supporters for the way we played there.

‘I don’t have any excuses for us in terms of why we lost – the better side won on the night and sometimes you just have to accept that and move on to the next game.

‘All I hope is the weather can clear a little bit in the coming weeks so we can start playing more regularly.

‘It is frustrating at the moment for us as we have been playing some good football and we are in good form but it is difficult to string that together when you play one match and then don’t play again for another week or two.

‘We played Ware at home in October and had a frustrating night, coming from 2-0 down to get back to 2-2 but then eventually losing 3-2.

‘They are in a similar position to us in the league table so this is a game we will be looking to go and win so we can get back to winning form and start pushing up that league table again.’

Saunders will have to assess one or two players’ fitness following the trip to Portchester in midweek.

His biggest concern will be the fitness of defender Ollie Searle, who limped off during the first half of Tuesday’s game.

– GRAEME MOIR