Petersfield Town returned to winning ways in style as they thrashed fellow Southern Combination Football League Premier Division play-off chasers Crawley Down Gatwick on Saturday.

Goals from Harrison Cable, Brandon Miller, Max Allen and Asad Ssemwogerere (2) secured a comprehensive 5-1 win.

The Rams took the lead on eight minutes.

Kian Towse went down the line and pulled the ball back for Cable, who marked his 50th Petersfield appearance with the opener, directing the ball home from close range.

The home side got back on level terms in the 14th minute when a well-weighted pass across goal left Josh Alder the simple task of prodding home.

Rhys White was inches away from poking the home side ahead, but at the other end Boluwato Salaam was fortunate to not see red.

Cable broke through on goal and Salaam bundled the striker to the floor and received a yellow card.

Six minutes before half-time Ssemwogerere put the visitors back in front.

Cable forced home keeper Alex Bellingham into a good save, but the loose ball fell to Ssemwogerere outside the box and he lifted his shot over Bellingham and into the net.

The second half saw the visitors turn up the heat on Crawley Down, and Miller’s shot was well saved by Bellingham.

The resulting corner was lofted to the back post and Miller attacked the ball and headed goalwards. His effort was cleared, but the assistant referee flagged to indicate the ball had crossed the line.

Oli Leslie blazed over from six yards out for the hosts as they squandered an excellent chance to make it 3-2, and from then on Petersfield took control.

Allen scored the visitors’ fourth a minute after coming on in the 80th minute.

Ash Leigh’s deflected shot fell kindly to Allen, who dummied the defender and calmly slotted home.

Ssemwogerere completed the scoring in added time when he rounded Bellingham and rolled home to conclude a fruitful afternoon.

Petersfield Town co-manager Connor Hoare was delighted with his side’s performance after earning a statement win in the battle for a play-off position.

“We owed Crawley Down Gatwick one after losing 5-0 at home to them in the reverse fixture,” said Hoare.

“We were missing a lot of players for that game and were looking forward to playing them again with a stronger side.

“Although we won 5-1 Crawley are a good side – they have a couple of very good players.

“They did cause us a few problems, but we were really clinical in the final third.

“We sometimes struggle to break down teams who sit in defensively and don’t leave any space, but when we play an open game against good sides, like Crawley, it suits us.

“Our record against the top seven this season is very good – we’ve got some good results and competed well.

“We’ve taken four points off Crowborough, beaten Eastbourne and drawn with Haywards Heath.

“We also conceded a stoppage-time equaliser to draw against Roffey, and we were the better side when we lost at home to Hassocks.

“We said at the start of the season that we wanted to aim for promotion this season.

“We’re still sitting in the play-offs in fifth place in February, so there’s a real opportunity for us.”