Longlevens pay the penalty in narrow defeat to Mangotsfield United
Longlevens slipped to their third league defeat in their last four outings on Tuesday night, with Jadyn Crosbie’s penalty sealing a 1-0 win for Mangotsfield United.
The game was the re-arranged fixture from the abandoned game before Christmas, which was stopped with Mangotsfield ahead thanks to a Jaydn Crosbie penalty, and the game unfolded in similar fashion this time around.
Longlevens struggled to retain and use the ball effectively for the most part of the first half, with the opener coming after a catalogue of errors.
Goalkeeper Ash Wintle was caught dwelling on the ball as the hosts tried to play out from the back, but after Wintle was challenged, defender Luke Hitchman made a desperate lunge and a penalty was awarded.
On another night, Hitchman could have seen red, but after speaking to his assistant, the referee issued a yellow card.
Crosbie stepped up to fire in his 11th penalty and 31st goal of the season to put the visitors ahead in the 13th minute.
Longlevens lost James Barnett to injury just before the half an hour mark, as the host struggled to mount any serious offence.
Jack Beardsell had Levens’ best chance of the half, as he cut in from the right and sent a left footed effort curling just wide of the far post.
Shiyak Sutherland, who is subject to an approach from local rivals Slimbridge, found space down the left side of the box just after half time – but sliced his effort well wide.
Just before the hour mark Mangotsfield nearly doubled their lead, but James White headed Jaydn Crosbie’s cross wide of the mark.
Kyrese Morrison wasted a great chance to seal the game for the away side, with just over 25 minutes to go, before White had an effort saved by Ash Wintle in the final few moments.
The defeat keeps Longlevens in 16th place in the Hellenic Premier table, whilst Mangotsfield United move up to 8th as they look to stake a late claim for a play-off place, although they have played more than all of the other play-off chasers.
Next up for Michael Palmer and Craig Martin’s side is another all-Gloucestershire fixture, with Cinderford Town the visitors on Friday night, whilst Mangotsfield head to the Meadow to take on Brimscombe & Thrupp on Saturday.
Longlevens: Wintle, Parker, Barnett, Long, Hitchman, Barlow, Timbrell, Finch, Sutherland, Dobbins, Beardsell
Subs: McLean, Martin, Davies, Iddles, Aldridge
Mangotsfield United: Oakes, Morrison, Morris, Barimah, Ilea, Parsons, Purnell, Hutchison, Crosbie, White, Aston
Subs: Tovey, Nelson, Kelly, Anstey, Bence
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Jack Beardsell (Longlevens)
READ MORE: Check out this Saturday’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
READ MORE: Check out this Sunday’s Women’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
