BEDFORD TOWN 3, PETERSFIELD TOWN 2 (Evo-Stik Southern League Div I Central)

TWO 3-2 defeats in three days was rubbing salt into the wounds for Petersfield who, 13 points adrift at the foot of the table, are facing almost certain relegation back to the Wessex League.

On Saturday, the Rams lost by the odd goal in five at home to Bedford Town. But the score was misleading. The seventh-placed visitors could easily have doubled their 3-0 lead at half-time, and although Petersfield fought back with two penalties in the second half, the second one came with only minutes remaining.

Ben Sawyer put Bedford ahead after seven minutes, beating keeper Lewis Watch with a shot that went in off the post.

Five minutes later, the Rams had a let-off when Andy Phillips shot wide from the penalty spot after a foul on Lee Roache.

Twice, Bedford had goals disallowed for offside before finally adding a second goal in the 37th minute. A free-kick was played down the centre and Jemale McKenzie-Lowe shook off his marker before firing home.

Moments before half-time, McKenzie-Lowe was left unmarked at a corner and headed home for his second goal.

But it wasn’t quite all over. Bedford lost some momentum and Petersfield hit back on the hour mark when Billy Connor was brought down and Ryan Woodford made no mistake from the spot.

The visitors regrouped and denied Petersfield any clear openings. As injury time approached, Max Smith was fouled inside the penalty area and with Woodford substituted, Connor sent keeper Enol Ordonez-Suarez the wrong way. But it came too late to affect the result.

Beaconsfield SYCOB 3, Petersfield 2. Petersfield came second in a see-saw battle in Buckinghamshire on Monday. In-form Billy Connor put the visitors in front after 16 minutes, but Beaconsfield replied with goals from Guri Demuria and Jack McKnight in the space of two minutes.

Connor gave Petersfield hope by scoring his second goal to make it 2-2 in the 63rd minute, but they could not hold on for a point. With 11 minutes of normal time remaining, Aaron Berry got the winner for Beaconsfield.