Stonehouse Town secure Challenge Trophy final spot with win over Longlevens
Goals either side of half time from Harley Hudd and Jamol Dare were enough to see Stonehouse Town ease past Longlevens to make the final of the Gloucestershire FA Challenge Trophy.
After a goalless opening half an hour, Hudd rose highest to head home from a corner to give the hosts the lead on a wet and windy Tuesday evening.
Longlevens had a spell either side of half time where they looked like they could get back into the game, with Ollie Long’s close range effort disallowed for offside.
But after seeing off the Levens attack, Stonehouse struck their killer blow on the hour mark as Jamol Dare scored against his former club to see the Magpies through to the final on 30 April.
Stonehouse are set to face Roman Glass St George, who also won their Semi Final on Tuesday night, 2-0 away at Bitton – with the final currently booked to be played on Thursday 30 April at GFA Headquarters at Oaklands Park.
However, given that GFA HQ is the home ground for Roman Glass, there could be a chance that the game is switched to Bishops Cleeve’s Kayte Lane.
But if the game is to be played at Oaklands Park, it is worth noting that Stonehouse are the home side according to the draw.
Stonehouse will now head to Woodford United in league action this weekend, as they look to secure a spot in the Hellenic League Division One play-offs.
They find themselves in a strong position, being six points clear of the chasing pack but also having games in hand over the sides above them.
For Longlevens, their fifth game in ten days proved to be a game too far for a small squad and they never really got going on a difficult night.
The wind-affected game saw both sides struggle to show their quality on the ball for the most part, with Jamol Dare’s ball in from the left bouncing through to Ash Wintle in the Levens goal – who had to beat it away at the back post.
Jay Wells nodded a Lewis Driscoll throw in towards goal, but he couldn’t replicate his header at the same end that he scored in the Floodlit Cup final seven days prior.
Harley Hudd worked space on the edge of the box before firing straight at Wintle, as Stonehouse started to look inevitable.
It was no surprise to see the hosts take a lead into half time and it came from a simple corner from the left, with Hudd leaping like a salmon to head home at the back post.
Josh Beadle nearly doubled his side’s lead moments later, but Wintle got down well to his right to palm round the post.
Longlevens thought they had levelled just before half time, after Leimar Dinnall kept out an overhead kick, Ollie Long turned home the rebound but was correctly deemed offside when the initial shot came in.
Cam Williams whipped a free kick over the bar, before a sweeping move saw Jack Beardsell denied by Dinnall’s legs as Levens pushed for an equaliser early in the second half.
But after it didn’t come, Stonehouse doubled their lead as a ball in from the left got caught in the wind, bouncing between Long and Hudd and Dare nipped in to flick the ball over Wintle as he came out to try and block.
Dare sprinted off producing an acrobatic celebration not only in honour of his goal, but a Man of the Match performance on the night.
Dare should have added to his tally five minutes later, but after being played through by Karl Nash, Dare swept his effort across goal and wide when in on goal.
Longlevens nearly set up an exciting finish when substitute Jack Holmes rattled the crossbar from 30 yards with Dinnall well beaten – it would have been some goal.
But in the end it was Stonehouse’s night and Adam Coyle’s side know that no matter what happens in their remaining seven league games – they have a cup final to look forward to, where they can hopefully cap off a wonderful season for the club.
Stonehouse head to Woodford United buoyant, whilst Longlevens host Cinderford Town strapping themselves in for a tough finish, where they play nine times in the next three weeks.
Stonehouse Town: Dinnall, Rees, Martin, Byrnes, Barrett, Kibble, Dare, Harris, Hudd, Nash, Beadle
Subs: Thwaite, Gayner, Redding, Haswell, Pirelli
Longlevens: Wintle, Spencer, Roddis, Long, Wells, O’Connor, Beardsellf, C Williams, Lodge, Driscoll, Knight
Subs: R Williams, Holmes, Sherchan, Hyett, Martin
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Jamol Dare (Stonehouse Town)
READ MORE: Check out the list of Sunday’s Women’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
