Longlevens U18s produce stunning second half to come from behind to beat Gloucester City

Theo Bevan scored two, including a stunning long range effort to help Longlevens U18s come from behind to run out 5-2 winners against Gloucester City on Monday night.

The Cheltenham Youth Floodlit League Premier Division fixture saw the visitors lead 2-1 at the break after Lewis Vye’s double cancelled out a Tom Worrall opener – but an impressive team display from Levens saw them score four after the break to come out comfortable winners.

An own goal saw the hosts draw level, before Zak Gibbons tapped into an empty net after a Phil Chovanec error and Bevan added two of his own to add gloss to the scoreline.

It was another lacklustre performance from Gloucester City, who after losing their unbeaten league start on Friday against Slimbridge, have lost back to back games for not working as hard as their opposition.

Josh Taylor’s side should get back to winning ways next Tuesday night when they head to bottom of the table Cinderford Town, but they will have to play better than they have the last two outings.

For Longlevens, they head to Cirencester Town next Tuesday full of confidence after a dominant victory over one of the better technical football playing sides in the division.

The game started with a chance each, with Archie Myatt and then Jayden Bee firing at Joe Poole and Phil Chovanec respectively in the first 6 minutes.

On 11 minutes the hosts struck as Tom Worrall stood his man up on the right side of the box, threw in a couple of step overs and clipped an effort into the far corner. Was it a cross? Probably, but Worrall to his credit did take a look.

But City levelled soon after as a shot from range was deflected through to Vye and the former Longlevens U18s man slotted past Poole to restore parity.

The goal settled the visitors down and after efforts from Myatt and Zac Pinchard were saved by Poole the Levens keeper could only get finger tips onto Vye’s long range effort as the game swung in Gloucester’s favour.

But only ten minutes into the second half the game was tied again as a Freddie Milton free kick was unfortunately sent into his own goal by Shaun Warren.

And from there on, there was only one winner. Longlevens pressed City instantly and with Aayan Ali and Worrall on either wing, they had the pace to really hurt the City back line.

Worrall and Zak Gibbons pressed the City defence into passing the ball back to Chovanec and with Gibbons baring down on him, scuffed his kick, allowing the striker the simplest of tap ins to restore his side’s lead.

Longlevens then won the ball straight from kick off as the visitors looked shell-shocked, but Gibbons this time saw his effort saved by Chovanec.

Chovanec could do nothing two minutes later though, as a long throw in was flicked on and after Ali’s header has blocked, Bevan swept home to make it 4-2.

And with just over 15 minutes remaining, Bevan produced an absolute rocket to make it five.

After the ball was cleared out of the City box, Bevan stepped in to win the ball, took and touch and rifled it into the top corner from nearly 35 yards.

Longlevens knew at that point the game was done. City didn’t look like getting back into the game at all and found the Levens back four and keeper Joe Poole – who decided to claim absolutely everything in the second half, too good to break down.

Longlevens move up to 5th in the table, one point behind City, with as many as two games in hand over some of the sides above them.

Severn Sport will be watching both sides again in a couple of weeks time, as both sides play at home in the Severn Sport Cup the week commencing Monday 10 November.

Longlevens U18s: Poole, Milton, Perrins, Boakes, Dowdeswell, Demirok, Worrall, Bee, Gibbons, Bevan, Ali

Subs: Jallow, Wood, Tomlinson, Myles, Richardson

Gloucester City U18s: Chovanec, Baines, Warren, Bradburn, Chance, Pinchard, Kposowa, Thomas-Phillips, Vye, Driver-Dickerson, Myatt

Subs: Nembhard, Townsend, Oliver

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Theo Bevan (Longlevens U18s)

READ MORE: Check out the list of Saturday’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here

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