tombo, when I applied laminate to my router table top, I first cut the laminate to rough size using a hacksaw in one case and a jigsaw in another case. For one of the cuts (using the jigsaw) I supported the laminate on a piece of wood close to the cutting line, but for the initial cut (handsaw), I cut the laminate roll where it was standing from top to bottom (not to be recommended, but I was out of space and in a hurry). In both cases the laminate chipped a little, but because I cut it oversize that was fine.
Once glued in place, I trimmed the edge of the laminate using a router fitted with a flush trimming bit.
Oh yeah, I'm stating the obvious here, but beware when gluing on the laminate. I'm usually pretty careful with any chemicals, but I glued mine late at night. I can't have been thinking clearly 'cos I reckoned that the job would be quick enough that I could apply the glue, attach the laminate, and flee the room before the chemicals got to me. Dumb theory, even dumber in practice (made even worse by the fact that I had underestimated how long it would take to do the glue up). Everything seemed fine while I was crouched over the board, but when I went to stand up I found the world was spinning faster than it had been before I started. It took me a few minutes outside in the fresh air before I started to return to anything near normal. It's nasty stuff, that glue, and combined with stupidity it is dangerous too.