Totton & Eling 1 Petersfield Town 3

The Rams began preparations for the play-offs with a convincing victory at Totton & Eling, writes Michael Christou.

Town travel to Hamworthy Recreation on Saturday in their final Wessex League Division One game of the regular season, and once the final round of matches are complete that day, the fourth-placed side will know their opponents in the play-offs.

The Rams to off to a great start at Totton, taking the lead after six minutes when Alex Barsa grabbed an unconventional opener.

With the Rams pressing the hosts back, the keeper received the ball on the edge of his six-yard box with Barsa in pursuit. The keeper's clearance was charged down bounced towards goal, coming off the post with Barsa following in to make sure it crossed the line. 

Elliot Simpson's free kick in the 14th minute led to Totton’s equaliser, when Zak Sharp tried to clear the cross at the near post and it went spinning off his shin and looped into the far corner.

A hectic opening 20 minutes was completed with Petersfield taking the lead again. Matt Dougan made a run into space on the left flank, and chipped a cross to the far post where Cam Smith timed his jump to perfection, nodding down into the corner.

They edged further ahead when a wild clearance led to Archie Greenough driving into the box. Taking a couple of defenders with him, he fizzed a cross to the back post to an unmarked Ollie Davies, who took a touch then fired into the bottom corner.

Harry Greenfield was called into action as a Dylan Gain free header needed keeping out, then his opposite number Mackenzie Hare flew across his goal to tip over a Barsa free kick.

In the second half Greenough could have had five goals to himself, but a combination of poor finishing and great goalkeeping prevented him from adding to his tally.  

His best chance came after a great team move that resulted in the keeper making a fine save. A diagonal ball found Kieran Alcock who drove down the wing and produced a brilliant cut-back to Davies. He released Dougan coming in from the left and his first-time cross was back heeled towards goal by Greenough, and the keeper did brilliantly to claw it away by his near post.