Cornell brace sends Longlevens Reserves into Senior Amateur Cup Semi Final
Jack Cornell’s double saw Longlevens Reserves claim bragging rights in a 3-2 win over Tuffley Rovers Development, sending his side into the GFA Senior Amateur Cup Semi Final.
The Gloucestershire Northern Senior League side had to come from behind after Tyrel Roberts broke the deadlock for Dave Cornock’s side.
Tommy Callinan slid home the leveller, before Cornell poked in at the back post right on half time to put his side in front.
Cornell added his second to make it 3-1 just after half time, before Roberts secured a brace of his own, capitalising on an unlucky error by Longlevens defender, Callum McLean.
The final stages of the game saw the Hellenic League Division Two West side win a number of set pieces in and around the Levens box, but the visitors’ backline held firm to secure a tie with Hanham Athletic in the final four.
Tuffley took an early lead, with a 3rd minute corner being headed down at the back post and Roberts was on hand to sweep an effort past Anton Ranken.
Longlevens should have been level five minutes later, though, as Fin Clift was found on the edge of the box but he scuffed straight at Kieran Derbyshire.
The hosts nearly doubled their lead, but first Karnell Chambers had a goalbound effort deflected over by McLean, before Josh Vallis-Ridler lined one up from 18 yards, but shot straight at Ranken.
It came at no surprise that Longlevens levelled on twenty minutes, with a corner of their own headed down for Tommy Callinan to slide home from close range.
Alex Knight, who put in a Man of the Match display, had a header cleared off the line just before the half hour mark, before Billy Stokes had an effort deflected onto the crossbar.
Callum Blackford and Roberts were both denied by Anton Ranken saves, with Roberts’ one on one kept out by Ranken’s out-stretched leg.
Knight skipped past two Tuffley defenders on the edge of the box, before poking wide – but Longlevens would go into half time ahead, after a scuffed free kick fell to Cornell at the back post and he made no mistake.
Longlevens flew out of the traps for the second half, with Clift scuffing an effort at Derbyshire just 13 seconds after the restart.
But Dale Rawlins’ side didn’t have to wait long for their third and once again it came from a set-piece.
Knight won another header at a corner and after Derbyshire kept out the initial effort, Cornell tapped home from inside the six yard box.
But credit the hosts, they didn’t give up and pulled themselves back into the game after Roberts fired home after Callum McLean’s poor, heavy touch on the edge of his own box.
Cornell was denied his hattrick just before the hour mark, with Derbyshire blocking and defenders smothering away the follow up.
Anton Ranken was called into action to deny Sheldon Herbert, with twenty minutes to go, as the hosts began to really turn the screw looking for a leveller.
The disappointing thing for Tuffley would be three free kicks they won in the final minutes of injury time, with all three overhit and played straight out of play for a goal kick.
In the end it was the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League side who were the more clinical over the course of 90 minutes and it is they who head into March’s Semi Finals, as they prepare to host Hanham Athletic of the County League.
Next up for Rawlins’ side is a trip to Berkeley Town next Saturday, whilst Tuffley Development is a trip to Evesham United Development the same afternoon.
Tuffley Rovers Development: Derbyshire, Rickard, Clifford, Low, Maher-Goldsmith, Stevens, Danes-Rutherford, Vallis-Ridler, Roberts, Blackford, Chambers
Subs: Reynolds, Herbert, Hughes, Idowu, Cincar
Longlevens Reserves: A Ranken, Kent, Powell, McLean, Callinan, Knight, Stokes, Clift, Cornell, Emmett, Perry
Subs: Kavanagh, T Ranken, Martin, Blackburn, Chamberlain
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Alex Knight (Longlevens Reserves)
READ MORE: Check out Saturday’s results in and around Gloucestershire right here
