Longlevens 5ths round off title winning campaign with tight draw with Tuffley Rovers 4ths

Longlevens 5ths sealed their Stroud League Division Four North title with a 2-2 draw against city rivals Tuffley Rovers 4ths.

Knowing they needed to avoid a nearly impossible defeat in order to clinch the title, Longlevens 5ths set about their business with a fast start.

Adam Phillips headed home before Josh Odekomaya rifled home a stunning leveller nearly straight away.

The script was torn up in the second half when Jacob Ferguson slotted home his side’s second of the game, but Phil Webb’s equaliser saw the points shared and allowed Levens 5ths to celebrate at full time.

Longlevens 5ths now have a two week break before their Fred Gardiner Shield final showdown with Gloster Rovers on 29 April.

Tuffley finish their season on Saturday 26 April, when they head to Barnwood United Reserves, but already know that they will finish 7th in the table after the weekend’s results.

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Longlevens went into the game knowing the title was 99% wrapped up and after Danny English’s early free kick was deflected for a corner, the ball into the box was headed home by Adam Phillips.

But Tuffley hit back straight away, with Josh Odekomaya’s stunning long range effort arrowing into the top corner from a good 30 yards out.

Odekomaya celebrated knowing he had scored a worldie and it set the rest of the half up for an interesting watch.

English went close to restoring his side’s lead ten minutes later, but as he met a cross at the back post, Robin Hoffland did well to save from close range.

Jacob Ferguson went close to a second for Tuffley on 24 minutes, but saw his header from a corner cleared off the line by Rob Poole.

Hoffland and Levens keeper Gary Pocock made a couple of smart saves between them, as both sides cancelled each other out going into half time.

Nathan Walsh hit the crossbar within 40 seconds of the restart, before Ferguson slotted home on 50 minutes to give his side the lead.

But with just over twenty minutes remaining, Phil Webb’s ball into the box fell all the way through and despite Hoffland’s attempts, ended up in the back of the net.

The goal was Webb’s second in the last two games, after he headed home on Wednesday night.

With the full time whistle, the champagne corks were popped and Andy Trout’s side celebrated yet another promotion or title win.

Longlevens 5ths: Pocock, Phillips, Webb, MacDonald, Poole, English, Thornton, Lewis, Dunn, Gardiner, Stokes

Subs: Knight, Wood, Workman, Walsh, Philip

Tuffley Rovers 4ths: Hoffland, Jordan, Samuels, Buckingham, Collier, Rose, Plater, Ferguson, Westcarr, Dix, Odekomaya

Subs: Cooper, Harrison, Devlin

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Jacob Ferguson (Tuffley Rovers 4ths)