SKIPPER Adam Bourner scored the opening goal of Laverstock and Ford's league campaign to celebrate his 100th game for the club in fine style.

It helped the Liam McConnell and Graham Mankin era get off to the best possible start as their young side saw off a physical Petersfield Town winning 3-1 in the blazing heat away at Love Lane on the opening day of the league season.

The visitors started brightly with Russ Jones and Lewis Wykes causing early problems.

The first shot on goal did however come from the home side, clever movement allowed Neale a shot on goal but debutant Roberts in the visitors goal was quick off his line to block.

Lavvy soon grabbed control of the game and quick counters were causing the home side all kinds of problems.

They should have been awarded a penalty on 20 minutes, after an unchallenged Petersfield defender mistimed his header and looked to handle the ball, but play was waved on much to the surprise of everyone in the ground.

However, a penalty was soon awarded, Archie Lovegrove, with a right foot like a heat seeking missile, found Russell Jones with a 40-yard diagonal ping, who on the run took the ball in his stride and broke clear only to be wiped out by the on rushing keeper.

Skipper Bourner coolly slotted home for his side's opener of the campaign.

Both sides went close before the half but no further goals were added and Lavvy went in to the break 1-0 up.

Petersfield looked more intent in the second half but the visitors were being well marshalled by Horton and Walton but from what looked a harmless effort on goal came the equaliser.

Luke Payne cut in on the angle and his shot hit a divot and freakishly bounced away from Roberts who was left helpless as the ball flew up into the net to make it 1-1.

With the home side's tails up and vocal support in full voice, Lavvy knew they would have to endure a storm, player/assistant manager Graham Mankin and the back line were in defiant mood and ensured the home side would be kept at bay.

Then it was the turn of the visitors to take charge once again. The workhorse Chae Sykes carving out chances and Russ Jones going close.

A super save from a Mankin header was the closest Lavvy came to regaining the lead.

With 15 mins remaining and bodies looking tired the crucial goal came.

Sykes played in Russ Jones who showed he was starting the season at his best, twisting and turning before slotting home his side's second.

With five minutes remaining, Orton added a third to ensure all three points went to Lavvy.

Next up for the side is their home opener against Ringwood on Saturday.

Following the win manager McConnell paid tribute to his young side and said: "There were obviously nerves leading into this season, there have been some big changes since last season.

"The obvious one, was Rob (Lakeman) stepping down it has in a way doubled the workload for me over the summer and leading into the season but the move to bring Graham (Mankin) in as my assistant early on has been a huge positive."

He added: "We have had a hectic pre-season I personally haven't stopped trying to build since the end of the last campaign but wanted to group to have enough time off.

"When we did train and go through our pre season it was clear we were not where I expected us to be (fitness wise) perhaps we can blame Gareth Southgate and co for the continued unexpected party season."

"But I was always confident if they showed commitment and worked really hard things would come together at the right time. And two people who have made a huge difference in pre-season have been Jody Rivers who has improved this group incredibly well in such a short space of time and Colin Hopkins who has worked them hard on the fitness side of things as well as working with the goalkeepers.

"Graham and myself knew right from the off that other clubs would be looking to sign everyone and anyone but for us we wanted to create a group that will grow and learn together and we have done that.

Looking ahead to the season, McConnell said: "We have added several new faces and brought some back but we want lads who know what it means to play for Laverstock and who will give everything they have for their team mates and that was clearly on show today.

"Like most teams at this time of the season, we had at least six missing today but it gave some of the younger lads a chance to shine.

"We had four debutants today, Tom Roberts, Jim Ward, Brad Walton and Ash Thomas and all of them have been brilliant in the pre-season so deserve their praise today.

"But it would be unjust of me not to praise a slightly more senior member of the side, our player/assistant manager, Graham Mankin. I only made the call to start him on the morning of the game), with the returning Harry Hale injured and captain Tom Mundy working we had a hole to fill and his experience was the tonic.

"He wasn't overly happy to do it but as soon as he was out there you could see how much he loved it. We needed that today it gave a boost to everyone around him so massive credit to him. There is life in the old dog yet."