A rollercoaster of a game saw ten-man Petersfield get a late winner in a 3-2 victory at home to playoff hopefuls Bexhill United in the Southern Combination Football League Premier Division on Saturday.

Kian Towse opened the scoring for Petersfield in the second minute after great work from Asad Ssemwogerere. He beat his man well and worked his way into the box, playing the ball across the face of goal for Towse to tap in at the back post.

Will Webb provided a great assist for Towse's second. In the final third of the pitch he played a well weighted pass to Towse, who lifted it over the trailing leg of the keeper and into the bottom corner after ten minutes.

Jack Farrier received a yellow card for a needless shirt pull in the middle of the park, and after half an hour a late challenge brought a second yellow.

To make matters worse, the deficit was halved from the resulting free kick, headed in by Dan Rodgers at the second attempt.

Momentum shifted to Bexhill as Sena Aklotsoe forced Kieran Connell to tip over the bar. The comeback was complete in the 45th minute through a pure strike by Harry Marchant. Taking a shot in his stride from far out, it flew across goal and into the bottom corner.

Petersfield shaded the second period and could have won the game earlier, as Harrison Cable beat the keeper in a race. With the goal gaping he took a touch to settle himself but by then the chance had gone.

A really well worked team goal, finished by Jack Lee, sent Love Lane wild in the 83rd minute. Petersfield recycled a corner with a ball across out wide to Tom Dinsmore. He took one touch and put a great cross on to the head of Lee, who powered it across goal and into the Bexhill net for the winner.

Petersfield Town co-manager Connor Hoare said: “I’m delighted. The first half was one of our best performances of the season. In the second half we created more and better chances than them, and got the goal we deserved.”