LAVERSTOCK and Ford won for the second consecutive time on the road in the Wessex League Division One, as they beat Folland Sports 3-2.

Despite the table showing the home side as holding up division, under their new management with seven debutants featuring in their win away to Whitchurch last week, Lavvy knew this would be a tough challenge.

The visitors were missing six regulars from the last win and featured an entirely new looking back line.

A combination of illness, injury and unavailability meant the squad was put to the test.

Starting brightly, Russ Jones went close as did Archie Lovegrove whose cheeky free-kick clipped the upright.

As the half hour mark ticked by another free-kick was awarded and this time Lovegrove found the top corner, his curling effort deceiving the home goalkeeper.

Lavvy continued to pressure their hosts and Lovegrove again was at the heart of the attack, his pinpoint cross found Jones who headed home for a 2-0 lead on 40 minutes.

As the interval approached, Lavvy had kept their more physical opponents at bay, but a lacklustre pass out from the back led to a mazy run by Krystie Sullivan-Rose who dinked his way into the box and blasted home to cut the deficit.

In the second half, the home side made changes and looked more threatening, long ball after long ball ensued but Lavvy stood firm, that was until on 58 minutes, when substitute Jake King reacted quickest to a long throw in from ex Salisbury centre back Steve Walker and cleverly over head kicked the equaliser.

With time ticking away, Chae Sykes found space in the box and saw his effort blocked with a hand. The referee instantly awarded a penalty. After a lengthy delay Sykes' spot kick was saved.

Into stoppage time, substitute James McSorley’s effort was blocked it fell to Ollie Burton-Roe who’s cross fell to Lovegrove, a simple lay off to Jones saw the forward tuck home the winner to send Lavvy wild and give them all three points with literally the last kick of the game.

After the match, manager Liam McConnell said: "This was a great result for us today. In the first half of the season we won one away and now we’ve picked up back to back away wins.

"We got ourselves into a strong position playing some good football but we allowed them back into it with two sloppy goals. I can’t fault the effort today, we had five regulars missing from the squad but more than that we put huge faith into Jim Ward and Pete Fletcher who have both been injured and came back in today.

He added: " Playing against a side with the wind in their sails, new management, a host of new players, away from home it could have been a banana skin but these boys do not know how to give up.

"Their effort and workrate for each other is fantastic. Even after Chae’s penalty miss I could see they did not want to stop fighting for the win.

"When the ball broke to RJ, you just knew he would take that chance and he did, he was hurting after missing an easier one so I’m delighted he got us the points we deserved today.

"I must also mention Graham (Mankin) today, we needed a presence with the way they played today and for hardly featuring for months, he came on for the last 30 and was immense. At times it’s experience and old heads like his that are as effective as the young lads doing the leg work around him. He may need an ice bath tomorrow however!”

Lavvy are away at Andover New Street on Saturday and on Tuesday are at home to Andover Town in the Salisbury Hospital Cup.

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The goal seemed to kick Laverstock back into gear. Russ Jones blazing over from close range and then George Sansom made three brilliant saves to deny the visitors. With time ticking away, Chae Sykes found space in the box and saw his effort blocked with a hand. The referee instantly awarded a spot kick. After a lengthy delay Sykes stepped up only to be denied by Sansom in the home goal. With it seeming as though a two goal lead would be thrown away Laverstock harried deep into stoppage time, sustitute James McSorley’s effort was blocked it fell to Burton-Roe who’s cross fell to Lovegrove, a simple lay off to Jones saw the forward tuck home the winner to send Lavvy wild and give them all three points with literally the last kick of the game.

After the match, manager Liam McConnell spoke to Journal Sport, “A great result for us today. 1st half of the season we won one away and now we’ve picked up back to back away wins. We got ourselves into a strong position playing some good football but we allowed them back into it with two sloppy goals. I can’t fault the effort today, we had 5 regulars missing from the squad but more than that we put huge faith into Jim Ward & Pete Fletcher who have both been injured and came back in today. Playing against a side with the wind in their sails, new management, a host of new players, away from home it could have been a banana skin but these boys do not know how to give up. Their effort & workrate for each other is fantastic. Even after Chae’s penalty miss I could see they did not want to stop fighting for the win. When the ball broke to RJ, you just knew he would take that chance & he did, he was hurting after missing an easier one so I’m delighted he got us the points we deserved today.

I must also mention Graham (Mankin) today, we needed a presence with the way they played today and for hardly featuring for months, he came on for the last 30 and was emmense. At times it’s experience and old heads like his that are as effective as the young lads doing the leg work around him. He may need an ice bath tomorrow however!”