Romsey suffered another attack of the away day blues as they slipped to their second defeat by a five goals margin at Petersfield Town last Saturday.

In front of the second largest Division One crowd of the season, the Rams scored five without reply and in doing so chalked up five consecutive league victories, writes Tony Galsworthy.

The afternoon’s proceedings began with the sounding of the Last Post and an impeccably observed minute’s silence to mark Remembrance Day. Despite welcoming back long term injury absentees, Kieran Hancock, Harry Prisk and John Cole and handing a debut to midweek signing Adam Holloway, Town boss Luke Watts could only watch in despair as his side’s resistance crumbled and the Rams cruised into three goals lead by half-time.

A frenetic opening period saw Town skipper Jack Odam pounce on a poor clearance and produce a fine diving save from Wilson in the Rams’ goal before going close with a long range effort. The hosts were creating problems down the right flank, with Alcock and Bourton combining well, and it was the latter’s inswinging corner in the 22nd minute that caught Town’s defence off guard as Agbeseyi deftly flicked the ball into the net.

Ten minutes later and the Rams doubled their advantage when John Cole, playing in an unfamiliar midfield role, conceded a free kick on the edge of his penalty area. A wicked deflection off the wall from Hoare’s curled effort saw the ball bobble into the net as a static Town ’keeper Joe Coombes watched in disbelief.

As Romsey pressed forward, they encountered some resolute defensive work and in added time, as another attack was foiled, Agbeseyi broke away and ran the length of the pitch to win a corner. The resultant set piece was headed by Cooper at the back post onto the top of the crossbar and bounced kindly into the path of Greenhough for a simple tap in.

Although Town started the second half positively, it was the hosts that looked more dangerous. A calamitous clearance by Coombes almost gifted a goal to Greenhough and when he made a similar error Rams’ substitutes Basra and Djaura combined to notch a fourth goal in the 67th minute. Djaura put the seal on the rout in the 77th minute when he played a ‘give and go’ before outrunning his marker and firing across Coombes and into the net. The Bypass Boys applied some pressure as the match petered out with Magee going close, but in truth they were well beaten by a side who took their chances and protected the ball better when in possession.

Tomorrow Romsey welcome Fleetlands to The AEC Protection Ground (ko 3pm) in a Division One fixture and will be looking to avenge a 0-2 cup defeat at the hands of their visitors in their last home match.