BOSS Liam McConnell heaped praise on the work-rate of his Laverstock & Ford charges as they recorded a 1-0 victory with 10 men over Newport in Wessex One.

Jake Rawkins was dismissed for an off the ball altercation during the first half for the hosts.

But striker Chae Sykes found a winner for Lavvy in the second half, when he reacted quickest in the box following a free-kick to seal the spoils.

Assessing the contest, McConnell told Journal Sport: "Certainly a game of two halves. The first lacked real quality. We shifted things around to give us an edge in the middle but the conditions really made things difficult.

“They are a big physical team, with lots of clever fouls, they are good at not letting teams settle in a pattern which affected us. The sending off was obviously a blow but I was confident if we could get the lads in at half-time level, we wouldn't lose that game.

“The work-rate in the second half had to be heroic, you could see at full-time all the lads were on the ground they worked so hard, covered so much ground, occupied multiple positions but that's what this team does so well, they will never give up.

“We have a real belief in ourselves, we knew we would have chances and Chae who, since his return from his three-month injury, has been like a new signing, got his goal. The perfect goal for a number nine, in the right place at the right time.”

Archie Lovegrove and Sykes were also on target as Laverstock overcame Fawley 2-1 on Tuesday evening.

McConnell’s side are now sixth in the league table, with 67 points from 31 games.