Baffins Lift Wessex League Cup

It was four years to the day that Rovers last lifted the trophy, on the same turf.

Tyler Moret struck the only goal in the 1-0 defeat of Portland United back in 2019 under the management of Steve Leigh.

This time, it was Danny Thompson turn to bring silverware back to PMC Stadium, as he named a starting eleven which included the returning Jason Parish and Dan Wood.

It was a slow start to the showpiece, in front of 610 fans at AFC Portchester, as Miles Everett had Baffins’ best chance of the opening stages. The winger cut in from the left-wing and saw his effort fizz wide of the far post.

But, it was Petersfield who took the lead in the rain, with Alex Barsa firing past Roux Hardcastle from outside the area.

Harvey Wellham saw an effort pass the far corner before Parish ensured the sides went in level at the break. The Rovers captain struck a first-time effort which sweetly found the bottom right corner of the Rams’ net.

Half time: Petersfield Town 1-1 Baffins

A slow start to the second half followed and it took 21 minutes into the interval for the next goal - Miles Everett firing home from long-range, his third goal at the Rec this campaign.

60 seconds later, Baffins had a third goal as Dan Aitken’s pinpoint cross found Tom Vincent at the far post, who kept his composure to send his header into the back of the net.

Petersfield pulled a goal back on 73 minutes after Hardcastle did well to stop the initial strike, but full-back Kieran Alcock converted the rebound to reduce the deficit.

In the final minute of normal time, Vincent rounded off what proved to be an emphatic victory, heading from after a well-timed cross from substitute Joe Johnson.

Full time: Petersfield Town 2-4 Baffins

Baffins: Hardcastle; Francis, Aitken, Sanders, Wood; Evans, Wellham (Paige 72), Oakwell; Parish, Vincent, Everett (Johnson 88).