Longlevens “turned an absolute corner” believes Palmer following stunning first league away win of the season against Slimbridge
Longlevens manager, Mike Palmer believes improvements are being put on display following his sides 3-2 win over Slimbridge on Friday night.
Levens stunned the Swans with a punishing second half comeback at Thornhill Park to pick up their first away league win since April which Palmer was only too happy to find out.
“I didn’t know that so appreciate finding that out.
“Sometimes when you’re playing well, and the results don’t go your way it can be so frustrating.
“I’m absolutely delighted for the boys, especially after the last few months, we’ve turned an absolute corner.
“There was a real togetherness within the side today.
“Even with the conditions today, you saw in the first half, we didn’t let that affect us. We stuck to our game plan,” Palmer said to Sam Yapp after the game.
Levens found themselves 1-0 down at the interval when Rhys Sarson fired high from a spot kick midway through the first period.
Palmer utilised the break to pick his side up sticking with one solitary message following what was a positive first half display.
“Don’t change. I know that sounds quite silly when you’re 1-0 down but I thought we were absolutely brilliant, especially against that wind because it was awful conditions.
“We kept the game short, stuck to the game plan and I thought the lads executed it brilliantly today,” he said.
And “don’t change” they did as Levens came out swinging in the second period scoring a quickfire double to shock the Swans.
Shaun O’Connor poked one into the far corner on 62 minutes before former Swans’ attacker, Shiyak Sutherland stung his old side pouncing on a misplaced pass just outside the area two minutes later.
Sutherland put in a menacing display against his former side, but it was something his boss couldn’t quite put into the words of what that would mean to him.
“You’d have to ask him how he feels about that today, but we were sad when he left us last season but now just delighted to have him back.
“You watch when he’s having those moments, he’s absolutely brilliant,” he said.
With his first Levens goal Sam Kelly all but made sure of the three points when his cross turned shot caught out the Swans goalkeeper, Gavin Jones, creeping into the net on 72 minutes.
But the Swans grabbed one late in second half stoppage time when Ben Hands picked up a loose ball before bending an effort into the bottom corner from almost 20-yards.
This win moved Levens eight points clear of the chasing pack at the foot of the table, but Palmer isn’t focused on others around them as a continued development is his goal this season.
“That’s always the goal , keep pushing on but we have a target for ourselves so we can’t be worrying about anyone below us or anything.
‘We’ve got to continue developing ourselves and look after ourselves, but the most important thing is we’re improving and results like today prove that,” he said
Longlevens will look to make it back-to-back wins when they return to Thornhill Park on Tuesday night to face Slimbridge in the Challenge Trophy.
