PETER Symonds kept alive their prospects of completing an unbeaten Hampshire Colleges League title defence when they clawed back a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 at Itchen.

It looked curtains for the defending champions when Will Gage and Sam Woodward put Itchen two-up inside 12 minutes.

But instead of wrapping the game up, Itchen proceeded to squander a net-full of chances – and predictably paid the penalty.

The influential Harry Bayles and Max Kirwan scored for Symonds either side of half-time to ensure the Winchester side remained unbeaten after ten games and on course for a second consecutive championship.

Itchen (30 points), in fact, went into the half-term break with a slender one-point lead at the top, but the 2-2 draw in midweek was the only blemish in Symonds’ otherwise perfect record.

The two previous matches between the sides this season produced 19 goals – PSC winning 7-4 in the AOC Cup and 5-3 in the league.

But for all those missed chances and the performances of the respective ‘keepers George Beavis (Itchen) and PSC’s Sam Jerram, pictured, there would have been another goal deluge in the Middle Road mud.

The chance sprinkled affair certainly whetted the appetite for the Peter Munro Cup final showdown between the pair at Sparsholt College on April 5.

A 20-yarder from Gage and low shot from Pompey hopeful Sam Woodward put Itchen in the driving seat before Jack Wilson drove just inches wide.

It was game on when Bayles pulled a goal back for Peter Symonds’ before half-time; but for one smart save by Beavis the visitors might have been level at the break.

A nasty shin injury sustained by Tom Steggall reduced an already stretched PSC to ten men.

With an opposing midfield warrior absent, Itchen ought to have seized their chance – but Nick Yeomans wasted a golden chance and then KFC sponsored Jerram made a low diving save which turned the match.

Soon after, Kirwan pounced on an Itchen defensive mix-up and Symonds’ were level.

Itchen coach James Taylor, who knows a thing or two about goal-scoring from his prolific non-league days, almost tore his hair out as his side bungled one chance after another.

Itchen’s Jake Willis-Dellimore collected a second yellow card for dissent: he had previously been booked for a late challenge, accompanying three of his team-mates into the book.

Still the chances came and went on the greasy surface, with Kirwan almost winning it for Peter Symonds.

By the end, both sides had blown themselves out – with Itchen rueing their profligate finishing for not winning it.

Farnborough, roundly thumped 5-1 by PSC in the Peter Munro Cup semi-final, bounced back with a 9-1 mauling of Queen Mary’s, Jake Wilson scoring four of the goals.