RESTING for several weeks had a negative effect on Laverstock and Ford who slipped to a fourth defeat against a resurgent Team Solent.

Team Solent, currently reaping the benefits from bolstering their squad, were under the cosh in the early stages and were rewarded with a penalty kick when Kane O’Keefe was impeded in the area. Elliott Wykes gave a composed finish but, despite the lead, the visitors were livid as the Team Solent defender was deemed as the last man but managed to avoid a red card.

And tempers were raised in the Laverstock camp ten minutes later when a contentious handball from Phil Morgan left Team Solent with a penalty.

Jesse Waller Lassen equalised and then put the home side ahead on the stroke of half time by slotting home a quick-thinking move.

The second half started with the home side, boosted by their half time lead, making the better chances and only some resolute defending stopped them extending their advantage.

Laverstock then got a foothold in the game and mustered headed chances through Ollie Hoare and O’Keefe.

But the pressure didn’t pay off and, instead, Waller Lassen, once a pro at Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, pounced on a loose ball to secure his hat-trick and the match ball.

“Jesse, who scored the hat-trick, has just been released by Tottenham and he really was the difference,” Lavvy boss Robbie Lakeman reflected on the 3-1 defeat.

“Although it’s another loss, I’m not too disheartened by the performance as I can take a lot of positives from the work rate and desire we showed through the game.

“We hadn't played for two weekends so to come back and play against a side that move the ball as well as they did, and compete for 90 minutes, was pleasing.

“We have some huge games coming up over the next few weeks so we will look to raise our game even further and see what happens.”

See pictures from the Laverstock and Amesbury derby on Saturday (3pm) in Thursday’s Journal.