Longlevens boost survival bid with battling win over Brimscombe
Longlevens took a big step towards Hellenic Premier survival on Wednesday night, thanks to Jack Beardsell’s first half strike in the 1-0 win over Brimscombe & Thrupp.
Levens went into the game knowing that if they could follow up their 4-1 win over Cirencester Town at the weekend, that they would move 10 points clear of the relegation places and even though they have played more than both Lydney and Malmesbury, they have given themselves a great chance.
The fixture was always going to be a nervy one, with already relegated Brimscombe wanting to sign off their season with a win in their final fixture.
And with Malmesbury beating Slimbridge and Lydney suffering defeat to Hartpury on Tuesday night, Michael Palmer and Craig Martin knew how important three points would be.
The hosts had a couple of early half chances, with Shiyak Sutherland beating Brimmy keeper Elliot Jones to a long ball, but not being able to steer his effort on target.
Jones was called into action moments later, saving down low from Shaun O’Connor’s snapshot.
Longlevens lost centre back Ryan Williams to injury on 10 minutes, after he pulled up following stretching for the ball.
Williams was replaced by Sam Kelly, with a re-shuffle that saw Jack Byard move to centre back and Luke Troke dropping back into the left back spot.
Brimscombe’s best chance of the game was a big one. A long ball forward saw former Levens man Vlad Yarmolenko in one on one with Kane Winman, but Winman stood tall to keep out the effort and the hosts scrambled clear.
That chance did nothing to calm the nerves in the home camp, nor did a golden chance for Cole Clinton, who skied an effort from about 8 yards when picked out.
Credit to the hosts, they regained their composure and pinched their crucial goal on 42 minutes, when O’Connor broke forward before cutting back to Jack Beardsell, who took a touch before drilling past Jones and into the bottom corner.
Longlevens looked for a second right after half time, with James Barnett cutting in from the right before firing at Jones.
O’Connor went close to getting himself on the scoresheet moments later, but dragged his effort wide after some neat play down the left hand side.
The hosts swapped Sutherland and Sam Kelly, with the left-footer out on the right hand side, and he nearly took advantage of a poor back pass, but his effort trickled onto the post before being cleared.
Just before the hour mark, Sutherland skipped past his man down the left but saw his shot deflected out for a corner.
From there Longlevens began to try and manage the game, allowing Brimscombe more of the ball and turning to a more counter attacking approach.
It nearly worked with 15 minutes left, when substitute Alex Knight flew down the left hand side, however his ball across the six yard box was just too strong for Sutherland.
The game was in stoppage time before we knew it, with Brimscombe making it nervy in the end with a succession of corners and throw-ins, but credit to the hosts, Winman wasn’t called into action thanks to a resilient back line.
Longlevens find themselves with a 10 point cushion with two games remaining, including a trip to Malmesbury on Saturday 29 March.
Before then, Malmesbury host Lydney this weekend, with both in action in midweek at home to Fairford Town and Corsham Town respectively.
Levens know that their two wins this week could still mean nothing due to the games in hand the other sides hold, but they have reacted to the defeat against Lydney in the perfect way and put the pressure back on the chasing pack.
For Brimscombe, the curtain closes on an absolute mess of a season. From having only a handful of players registered a week before the season started, to losing 11-0 and 12-0 in consecutive matches, their fate was on the cards from September.
Barring a miracle, the Lilywhites will now plan for life in Hellenic Division One – a tough league to get out of.
Longlevens: Winman, Barnett, Byard, Long, R Williams, Hands, C Williams, O’Connor, Beardsell, Troke, Sutherland
Subs: Belboda, New, Kelly, Knight, Marszalek
Brimscombe & Thrupp: E Jones, Clinton, K Marks, Hall, N Marks, Kerr, Yarmolenko, Blackford, Archer, Phin, Lee
Subs: Skittrall, Z Jones, Hanson, Waters
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Ollie Long & Jack Byard (Longlevens)
READ MORE: Check out the list of Sunday’s Women’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
