Dursley claim shoot-out victory to secure place in Reg Davis Cup Final after late leveller against Longlevens
Dursley Town secured their place in the Reg Davis Cup final, coming back to draw 2-2 with Longlevens Reserves in 90 minutes, before Ollie Elliott saved two in the shoot-out.
An early strike from Billy Herbert gave Ben Deakin’s side the perfect start, but after Alex Knight volleyed in a leveller, the hosts would go into half time ahead thanks to Kieran Squires’ neat finish.
And just as it looked like the hosts were going to hold on to book their spot in the final, Herbert converted his second from close range to send the game to penalties.
Dursley keeper Elliott, produced a stunning save at 2-1 to keep his side in it and he would go on to save from James Barnett and Rylan Snelgrove to see his side go through.
The two lock horns again next week, with the top two in GNSL Division One meeting at Dursley next Saturday.
The game itself saw Dursley score with their first real attack, as Billy Herbert volleyed past Jack Sargeant and into the bottom corner on three minutes.
Dursley were on fire in the opening twenty minutes or so and could have stretched their lead soon after, with Alfie Mann spinning well down the right, by seeing his effort saved by Sargeant at his near post.
Sargeant then did well to beat away a long range effort from Mann, as Dursley looked to take advantage of their great start.
But as the half wore on, Longlevens settled and then snatched a leveller with 10 minutes to go until half time, as a long throw was headed out to Alex Knight and his volley snuck in at the near post.
Elliott was left rooted and unsighted, leaving him no chance and out of nowhere, it was all square.
And just before half time, the hosts pinched the lead.
After Leo Marsden-Green got away from a very game Josh Barclay, he played a delightful reversed pass for Kieran Squires to slide his effort under Elliott and put his side in front at the break.
The second half was much cagier in the early exchanges, with both sides knowing that the next goal was crucial.
Callum Dark had the only real effort of note in the first 15 minutes, but his effort flew over.
As the substitutions started to take place in and around the hour mark, the game became very end to end, with a Dursley corner headed down and then off the line by Tom Spencer, with the hosts breaking and Jayden Bee had an effort well saved by Elliott.
Toby Shelton produced a superb block in his own box to keep out an effort from Herbert, before Kaya Demirok fired over from range for Levens.
And with 15 minutes left, Elliott produced a stunning save to palm out a Tom Spencer header that looked destined for the top corner, with the keeper saving again from Spencer from the resulting corner.
That would have won the tie for Levens, but Dursley knew they were just about alive in the contest and it came to no surprise to see them level late on.
Liam Harper came on for the visitors with the intention of taking a penalty, should they get there and after his shot was blocked on 85 minutes, Herbert was on hand to put home the rebound – and so to penalties.
Toby Shelton dragged wide for Longlevens, but Jack Sargeant got down well to keep out Herbert’s effort for Dursley.
Alex Knight, Liam Harper, Ollie Morrissey and Callum Dark all exchanged converted penalties for 2-2, before James Barnett saw his penalty saved by the legs of Elliott.
Then after centre half Sean Monday put Dursley in front, Rylan Snelgrove had to score, but saw his spotkick saved by Elliott and Dursley are through!
Dursley will play Whaddon United in the final, after United beat Painswick 8-3 in the second Semi Final.
The final is rumoured to be taking place on Tuesday 8 October at Longlevens’ Saw Mills ground, with the GNSL set to confirm the final arrangements next week.
Longlevens Reserves: Sargeant, Peirce, Snelgrove, Shelton, T Spencer, Cornell, Marsden-Green, R Spencer, Squires, Knight, Barnett
Subs: Demirok, Dyson, Martin, Bee, Morrissey
Dursley Town: Elliott, Billings, Monday, Darley, Barclay, Gray, Dolbear, Price, Mann, Herbert, Dark
Subs: Weyman, D Beeston, O Beeston, Deakin, Harper
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Ollie Elliott (Dursley Town)
READ MORE: Check out the list of Saturday’s results in and around Gloucestershire right here
