VETERAN Declan McGregor scored one of the fastest goals in Sydenhams Wessex history as Downton defeated Laverstock and Ford 1-0 in a hard-fought derby.

The striker took just 30 seconds to find the net as he pounced on a through ball and lobbed the stranded Lee Newman-Judd.

The hosts then created further chances to double their lead but were unable to convert them.

Lavvy grew into the game after the resumption and went close through James Clifton and Archie Lovegrove.

And their best chance arrived from a corner which was met by Olly Hoare but saved brilliantly by Robins' keeper Charlie Aldridge.

That was as good as it got for Lavvy as the defeat saw them miss-out on returning to the top-two in Division One.

Whereas the victory for Downton, a third on the bounce, moves them up to 10th place.

Boss Rae Hughes said: "I'm really pleased with the lads, we had a game plan and they stuck to it and it worked.

"We had the energy, fight and desire back which is really pleasing."

In the opposite dug out, Lavvy co-managers Robbie Lakeman and Liam McConnell told JournalSport: "Downton had a clear game plan which Rae had set them up to achieve and fair play to them as they executed it and it worked.

"We always felt that whoever struck the first blow would be difficult to beat and with them scoring after 30 seconds that really took the wind out of us.

"Any derby defeat is tough to take and we don't seem to be getting things our own way in games recently so we are finding it tough but we have a great bunch of lads who are desperate to do well so we will work together and get through this sticky patch."