MANAGER Alan Lay praised plucky Verwood Town for rattling Sydenhams Wessex League title chasers Blackfield & Langley – despite their late disappointment.

The Potters recovered from a two-goal deficit to level matters on Saturday, only for a scrappy late goal to consign Lay’s charges to a 3-2 reverse.

Sam Lanahan and Rico Wilson put the visitors in the driving seat but Max Brimson struck just before the interval to give Verwood hope.

Tyler Rutten’s penalty with 12 minutes to go levelled matters but up popped Wilson to force home from a half-cleared free kick during the dying embers.

“We were gutted,” said Lay. “The referee gave them a free kick right on the edge of the box and from the goalmouth scramble, they got the winner with a few minutes left.

“I felt we were brilliant in the way we recovered from two down. That takes excellent spirit against anyone, let alone a team like Blackfield with the quality they have.

“The performance was fantastic. It was disappointing not to get something from it but the lads should take a lot of confidence from the way they played.”

The Potters sit 14th in the Premier Division standings, 11 points clear of the drop zone.