Longlevens Ladies secure league title with win over Downend Flyers Reserves
Longlevens Ladies sealed the GCWFL Division Two title with a convincing 8-1 victory at Downend Flyers Reserves.
Needing a victory to be crowned Champions with two games remaining, Longlevens took the lead through Sarah Burford, before Hayley Pitt’s hattrick and braces for Mel Hoad and Beth Hicks saw Rob McGeever’s side ease to an all-important three points.
Longlevens will now head to Southmead next weekend and Gloucester City Women Development on 12 May as Champions, to complete a wonderful season.
After both Pitt and Burford had early efforts saved, Lorraine Smith sent a header looping off the bar, as they looked for a breakthrough inside the first 10 minutes.
Burford found space in the box moments later, before planting her effort past the Downend keeper.
Pitt, who started the game on 26 goals for the season, added her first on 21 minutes – latching onto a through ball and slotting under the advancing keeper.
Downend reduced arrears instantly, as an effort was lifted over Skye Chamberlain and full-back Isidoro Valenzuela unfortunately headed into her own net.
But three goals in the final ten minutes of the first half saw Longlevens all but clinch the league title before half time.
Mel Hoad scored her first after beating the offside trap and slotting into the bottom corner, but Pitt rounded the keeper and tapped home moments later.
Pitt turned provider in the final minute of the half, as she crossed for Hoad to curl home her second.
The second half saw McGeever make the changes, with Beth Hicks among those to enter the field of play and it was Hicks who added a sixth.
Hicks was picked out by Burford’s through ball and after charging through into the box, she fired home.
A slow-burner of a second half saw Longlevens do a great job at seeing the game out, against a Downend side who didn’t give up, despite only having 11 players on the day.
Pitt would go on to add a third to her tally, with quarter of an hour to go, after turning home the rebound following Hicks’ blocked shot.
The Levens striker is the current top goalscorer in the Division Two, but with nearest rival Nicole Lewis scoring four goals for Gloucester City Women Development in their win over Bradley Stoke, her lead now sits at two goals, with more games left to play than Lewis.
Hicks added a beautiful curling effort on 90 minutes, as she slid in to shoot from 18 yards.
Longlevens Ladies: Chamberlain, Valenzuela, Lloyd, Smith, Yates, Davis, Dannatt, Burford, Hoad, Pitt, Kosylowicz
Subs: Poole, Hancock, Bingham, Hicks, Martin
C Martin Roofing Player of the Match – Hayley Pitt (Longlevens Ladies)
READ MORE: Check out the full list of results in and around Gloucestershire from Saturday right here
