Gwillim hattrick sees clinical Longlevens earn massive opening day win over Lydney Town
Fin Gwillim claimed a hattrick and grabbed an assist as Longlevens ran out 5-1 winners against Lydney Town, Levens’ highest winning margin for over two years.
Longlevens were clinical and secured the result, without really getting out of first gear – which will disappoint Lydney boss Lee Smith the most.
It is the first time since a 4-0 win over Royal Wootton Bassett Town in February 2023 that Longlevens have won a game by a margin of more than three goals.
And based on the second half, it could have been even more.
After first half goals from Gwillim and Shiyak Sutherland, the two added a goal a piece after the break to see Buster Davies and Pete Boyle’s side 4-0 up and in complete control.
Jordi Sheen reduced arrears from the penalty spot, before Gwillim capped things off with a stunning effort from about 40 yards.
The result will give both managers something to think about, with Davies and Boyle given food for thought on how to use the full squad going forward – particularly with experienced duo Brad Martin and Shaun O’Connor playing minor roles off the bench, Josh Mason and Soyan Sherchan there doing the warm up, but ultimately left out and duo Alex Knight and Joey Haswell unavailable.
For Smith, he will be disappointed with a number of performances, with Lydney the makers of their own downfall on a number of occasions and whilst having a lot of the ball, being unable to do anything with it.
Longlevens had the first chance of the night, with Gwillim heading a Jack Beardsell cross towards goal, but Lydney keeper Ollie Phillips did well to palm over.
Phillips denied Jack Holmes’ effort moments later, before Shiyak Sutherland turned a cross just wide at the near post.
From there, Lydney grew into the game and started to dominate possession – with Jordi Sheen unsurprisingly able to get on the ball and influence proceedings.
Archie Myatt was the stand-out on the night for the visitors and it was he who had their best chance of the half – blasting against the crossbar after shifting the ball on the right side of the box.
Moments later, the hosts struck, with Sutherland getting on the end of a through ball, holding off Keelan Maguire and slotting past Phillips with ease.
One became two ten minutes later, as a long ball forward saw a moment of hesitation at the back for Lydney and Gwillim nipped in before rounding Phillips and tapping home.
Lewis Driscoll came close to a third soon after the break, but his effort was beaten away by Phillips, before the keeper then kept out a Jay Wells header on the hour mark.
Two goals in four minutes saw Levens pull away completely, with both goals really poor defensively from the visitors.
First, Sutherland blocked a short back pass and resulting clearance, with Phillips scrambling to try and get back.
Sutherland had the presence of mind to cut the ball back from next to the post and after Gwillim’s first shot was blocked, he was able to react quickest with a scorpion kick to flick in his second.
Then, Gwillim was able to turn and get past two men on the right side of the box and pull back for Sutherland to claim his second.
Lydney were awarded a route back into the game as Ollie Long was deemed to have tripped Tyler Blount in the box, with Jordi Sheen sending Billy Thomas the wrong way.
Lydney were stunned though and were again allowed a lot of the ball in the closing stages, yet on a number of occasions Longlevens were able to easily force needless errors, killing all momentum the visitors had.
And in stoppage time, after Cam Williams got a foot in just inside the Lydney half, the ball rebounded to Gwillim, nearly 40 yards out, and he sent an effort sailing over Phillips to make it five.
Both sides face familiar foes in the FA Cup on Saturday, with Longlevens hosting Fairford Town and Lydney Town welcoming Royal Wootton Bassett Town.
Lydney then host Tuffley Rovers in the league next Tuesday night, whilst Longlevens have a tough home fixture against Hereford Pegasus next Wednesday.
Longlevens: Thomas, Roddis, Byard, Long, R Williams, Holmes, Beardsell, C Williams, Gwillim, Driscoll, Sutherland
Subs: O’Connor, Wells, Belboda, Price, Martin
Lydney Town: Phillips, Maguire, Mace, Brown, Lo, Gibbs, Sheen, Dodds, Senior, Symons, Myatt
Subs: Blount, Vaughan, Clark, Kposowa, Mulraney
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Fin Gwillim (Longlevens)
READ MORE: Check out the list of fixtures in and around Gloucestershire this Saturday right here
