Knight at the double as Longlevens Reserves set up MASSIVE title decider
Alex Knight scored two as Longlevens Reserves ran out 4-0 winners at Woolaston, setting up a massive title deciding game between Chalford and Tredworth Tigers – with three possible outcomes.
Knight opened the scoring before Shiyak Sutherland fired home almost instantly. Fin Clift added a beautiful header, before Knight rifled home his second before the half time interval.
The result moves Dale Rawlins’ side to the top of the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division One table, with 2nd place Chalford hosting 3rd place Tredworth Tigers on Monday night.
There are three outcomes. 1) Chalford win and they win the league. 2) Tredworth win and they win the league. 3) The match is drawn and Longlevens Reserves win the league on GOAL DIFFERENCE….yeah, I know!
Hundreds of spectators are expected at the Chalford Sports & Social Club on Monday, where one of the three sides will be presented with the league trophy/
Longlevens went into their final game of the season knowing that only a win would keep the possibility of them clinching the title alive and they were given a massive scare on 6 minutes.
A free kick into the Longlevens box was headed home but the offside flag cut short the Woolaston celebrations.
And the visitors sparked into life instantly, taking the lead themselves as Matt Emmett’s quick throw was crossed in by Shaun O’Connor for Knight to drill home.
Levens won the ball straight from kick off and Shiyak Sutherland was played in before firing in off the post.
The visitors went 3-0 up on 11 minutes as a cross from the left was guided beautifully into the top corner by Fin Clift.
Clift went close to a fourth minutes later, but slashed his effort over after cutting in from the right.
Matt Emmett had an unlucky time in front of goal, and it felt destined that he wouldn’t score.
First, he went for an overhead kick that hit him in the face. Then, he rounded Woolaston keeper Darren Price but ran the ball out of play. And finally he sent a header goalwards that Price saved well – but if it was anywhere other than the middle of the goal it would have sailed in.
Price made a handful of stunning saves as the first half went on – in particular one to claw out a James Barnett header from the top corner.
But there was nothing Price would do 10 minutes before the break, as Clift’s cross fell for Knight just inside the box and he blasted into the top corner.
A subdued second half saw Longlevens wasteful in front of goal, for the most part.
Clift, Bonser and Knight all fired off target – whilst Phil Blackburn had two efforts saved by Price.
The major incident of note in the second half came 10 minutes from time, when Longlevens Reserves were awarded a penalty.
Price leapt to his right to keep out Knight’s spotkick to deny him a hattrick.
With their season now done and if the result doesn’t go their way Monday, Longlevens will look back at the draws at English Bicknor and Dursley plus defeats to Tewkesbury Town and Bibury – key points dropped after Christmas.
Rawlins’ side, like everyone who goes on Monday, will be watching closely as the Northern Senior League comes to a dramatic close.
Woolaston: Price, Organ, Bradburn, Jones, Barrett, Greening, Giles, McCewan, Perry, Rose, Spencer
Subs: O’Neill, Fear, Harvey, Taylor
Longlevens Reserves: Ranken, Kavanagh, Barnett, Perry, McLean, Callinan, Knight, O’Connor, Clift, Emmett, Sutherland
Subs: Kent, Blackburn, Stokes, Bonser, Martin
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Alex Knight (Longlevens Reserves)
