A RESURGENT Romsey Town made it five consecutive victories as they twice came from behind to defeat Laverstock and Ford by 4-2 in Wiltshire last Saturday.

The hosts took the lead first through an Archie Lovegrove penalty and again with a controversial Russell Jones goal but a Jack Odam hat-trick and a single from Charlie Rattley gave the Bypass Boys their first away League win, writes Tony Galsworthy.

Hopes were high for Town, who were fresh from their stunning 4-0 midweek win at Premier Division Portland United and made just one change with experienced fullback Mark Fawley making his first senior start of the season.

Initially it seemed Town’s midweek heroics had taken its toll as they struggled to a replicate the fluency in their passing and Laverstock easily snuffed out any threat in the first 20 minutes.

The hosts’ game was based on physicality and breaking quickly, which they did to lethal effect when a long ball was chased down by Jones and as he sidestepped Ant Croucher, the Town defender was adjudged to have impeded him and the referee awarded a penalty.

Jordi Valero guessed the right way, but Lovegrove’s penalty just evaded his fingertips to give Lavvy the lead on 30 minutes.

Town’s response was muted as they continued to enjoy plenty of possession without troubling Laverstock’s back line, but they sprung to life with five minutes left in the first half.

Odam’s teasing cross saw Lavvy’s ‘keeper and John Cole arrive together, and it took a goal line clearance to avert the danger.

Town’s number nine Odam was then thwarted when one on one with the ‘keeper, before a curling cross from Fawley was met by a diving glanced header from Odam to restore parity on the stroke of half time.

The second half started brightly with Odam going close again, although what was a fast-paced game continued to be riddled with errors by both sides.

The hosts’ Rawkins’ was causing problems down the left flank, combining well with Jones and it was from this source that Laverstock took a controversial lead when Rawkins’ shot was blocked, and Jones curled in the rebound from an acute angle.

The linesman flagged for offside but after a lengthy discussion with the referee the goal stood.

Falling behind seemed to galvanise Romsey and they responded with a three goals burst in the last 15 minutes.

First, a defence splitting pass from midfield found John Cole on the edge of the area and he rolled the ball into the path of Odam, who coolly stroked the ball into the net from 12 yards in the 75th minutes.

The hosts created another fine chance when Rawkins’ shot drew a fine save from Valero, but it was a surging run past two defenders and a pinpoint cross by Mark Fawley that saw Odam clinically complete his hat-trick in the 82nd minute.

Finally, in the 87th minute another excellent cross by Fawley following tenacious play by Cole in midfield, found Charlie Rattley on the six yards line where he powered a header into the top corner to put the game beyond the hosts’ reach.

Town’s third league win in succession moved them up to ninth in the table with six games played.

Tomorrow they journey eastwards to the outskirts of Portsmouth to face Premier Division AFC Portchester in the FA Vase (ko 3.00pm)