LAVERSTOCK and Ford's promotion hopes were all but quashed in the space of four days, with back-to-back defeats away to in-form Fleet Spurs and then Hythe & Dibden in Sydenhams Wessex Division One.

On Wednesday, despite scoring four away from home thanks to Adam Jones' double, Archie Lovegrove and Christian Hurst, the defence were put to the sword as they lost 7-4.

And on Saturday, despite dominating possession and hitting the woodwork five times, Lavvy were simply unable to find that finished product for only the third time this season as they lost to Hythe 3-0.

Oluwaseun Olabiyi twice struck and Tom Switzer was also on target.

Joint managers Robbie Lakeman and Liam McConnell said: "Two very different performances yet the same painful outcome. Wednesday, we really let ourselves down with how we performed, yet Saturday the attitude of the lads was superb and they were certainly ruing missed chances. To hit the bar three times in the opening 15 minutes summed up our week. But we have a lot to play for still and we are hungry to bounce back."

Laverstock booked their place in the final of the Salisbury Hospital Cup.

Their semi-final with Shrewton United ended in a 1-1 stalemate at the end of extra time but Lavvy were triumphant in a penalty shootout.