Lavvy kicked off their new year in style with a come-from-behind win against fifth-place Brockenhurst in one of the few games that survived the recent bad weather.

Coming into the game, Lavvy were without six recognised first team regulars which meant, not for the first time, the youngsters and returnees from injuries were called upon.

Fletcher returned after six weeks out, Taylor was back after injuries and illness, James Budgell and Fin Roberts were kept in the squad and Jordon returned from over three months out with a broken shoulder.

With so many changes it was always going to be a difficult afternoon and the hosts got in front early, nine minutes in, a quick counter from a Laverstock attack led to a right-wing cross for the prolific Silven Obeng score from close range.

Lavvy started to get back into the game without much threat but on 25 minutes the game turned on its head.

A clumsy over stretched challenge by Chae on the home keeper was rightly called a foul but what was to come gave advantage to the Bulldogs. The Brockenhurst goalkeeper retaliated by kicking out and stamping on Chae.

The linesman flagged immediately and the referee showed a straight red. With reserve keeper Heath Bartram going in goal, his first task was to pick the ball out of the net – a Jake Rawkins cross was glanced home by Billy Campbell-Smith on 40 minutes.

The second half much like the end of the first was all Laverstock, straight from the off they set out their intention of hunting a goal. Within five minutes of the restart, captain Adam Bourner picked up the ball on the halfway line and went on a mazy beating at least seven players into the box, only to be wiped out for a stonewall penalty.

Lewis Wakeford stepped up but his spot kick rebounded off the bar away to safety.

More chances came and went, Jake Rawkins and Russ Jones with the pick of the chances but Bartram in goal was equal to everything.

Then on 68 minutes Lavvy went in front.

Bourner picked up a loose pass, fed Jake Rawkins and his run forward led to him rasping home an effort from 20 yards to make it 1-2.

A late red card for the Brockenhurst manager added to their miserable afternoon as Laverstock and Ford took the three points home.

Manager Liam McConnell said after the game: “A great start to the new year, they don’t come much tougher than an away trip to Brockenhurst. With all the bad weather and the reports coming in that the game was in doubt could have easily distracted us but thankfully it didn’t affect us.

"I would have liked it to have been far more comfortable but we’d have taken a win of any kind at the start of the season”.