High-riding Hamworthy Recreation continued their bright start to the season with a deserved 3-1 victory at home to Petersfield Town.

From the off the home side took control and had the majority of possession, with the Rams’ defence kept busy by regular probing attacks.

The Rams’ attacks were sporadic, but it looked like they might take the lead when Max Bray took advantage of a defensive error by Hamworthy and played in George Bowerman, whose effort on goal was blocked.

Shortly afterwards Bailey Rowe was played through and he calmly slotted home past Harry Greenfield to give the hosts a 13th-minute lead.

Hamworthy continued to dominate proceedings but failed to increase their slender lead until the second minute of first-half stoppage time, Ollie Davies firing home in a real body blow to the Rams’ hopes.

Despite this setback the Rams made a very bright start to the second half and put Hamworthy under some sustained pressure.

They could not make the breakthrough and their chances of turning the game around were dealt another blow when Jake Dove added a third goal in the 71st minute with a well placed shot.

To their credit the Rams never gave up and were rewarded with a consolation goal from Jean Pierre Alexander in the 82nd minute.

The previous Tuesday Petersfield won 2-1 at home to Laverstock & Ford to take revenge for their FA Cup defeat.

A stunner from Ed Stephens-Truman and a second from George Bowerman meant a clinical Petersfield took the points.

Stephens-Truman put the hosts ahead after just six minutes with a snap shot from long range which flew past the keeper.

The visitors pushed but could not take their chances. Will Yates made an excellent block at the back post and Harry Greenfield pulled off a great save soon afterwards.

Moments before half-time a poor error from a Laverstock defender left Bowerman picking up the ball inside the box. Under pressure he found a gap to double the hosts’ advantage.

Laverstock came out for the second half playing well and forced Petersfield back, but when their biggest chance fell to their striker he missed the target with a free header from close range.

With 75 minutes on the clock a good cross was met by Laverstock’s George Cooper, but Greenfield showed great reactions to move across his line and claw the goal bound effort away.

The resulting corner was swung into the box and went into the bottom corner via a deflection from Charlie Wakefield.

With the visitors pushing for an equaliser, Greenfield tipped over a header with one of the last touches of the game.

The Rams’ under-23s began their league campaign with a 0-0 draw at Love Lane against AFC Stoneham Development. Stoneham are always a force in the league so a point was a satisfactory outcome.

Petersfield’s under-18s travelled to Wimborne Town in the FA Youth Cup and were given a tough lesson by an impressive Wimborne side. The Rams restricted them to a 2-0 lead at the break but the hosts ran away with it in the second half to win 10-0.

The under-18s then hosted Alresford Town in the Hampshire Cup. Petersfield were the better side throughout but made hard work of it before eventually emerging 4-3 winners, with Alex Heather, Will Bell, Lewie Grant and Jude Krum scoring their goals.

By Michael Christou