LAVERSTOCK suffered a 2-1 defeat at US Portsmouth, as the home side scored twice in the last 20 minutes.

Tom Roberts in the Laverstock goal was kept far busier of the two goalkeepers and made a single handed saw to keep the home side at bay.

When Roberts was not able to produce heroics, fortune came to the visitors aide.

Tom Jelfes blazed over his spot kick after Archie Lovegrove was adjudged to have fouled.

Lavvy did have a rare attempt, Tom Mundy nearly snatched a lead as his 40 yard effort beat the goalkeeper but cleared the crossbar too.

Despite the poor first half Laverstock came out full of intent in the second half, the introduction of Graham Mankin stabilised matters and it was the turn of the visitors to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.

Russ Jones almost finishing from close range, his effort was blocked on the line.

It was not long before Lavvy were in their stride. Mundy finishing off a flowing move striking hard and low on 56 minutes for the opener.

Laverstock continued to dominate matters and should have scored again but the home goalkeeper was in fine form.

Against the run of play, a needless free-kick was giving away on 72 minutes, Jelfes far post header was sent across goal and poked in by Callum Glen for the equaliser.

With both sides looking for the win, it was US Portsmouth who struck.

Hesitant defending allowed Lewis Beale to climb highest and power home a downward header past Roberts for the winner seven minutes from time.

Despite a late rally and a couple of golden chances Laverstock could not find the equaliser and left the Victory Stadium empty handed.

Manager Liam McConnell said:"The first half was not acceptable. As a group we are far better than that, we lacked our normal intensity, our passing game was missing, we lacked energy across the pitch.

"Tom (Roberts) is devastated, he has put in a match winning performance today and he gave us the platform to go and perform in that second half.

"We were lucky to get in at 0-0 but the boys responded and a shuffle helped us dominate but it's perhaps more frustrating we controlled the game in the second period only to hand them the points.

"They are learning all the time and are a quality group, but they know as a group we weren't at our levels today."

Laverstock are at home on Saturday, when winless Follard Sports are the visitors. On Tuesday night, they are away at Alton.