Longlevens Reserves clinch GNSL Division One title with late winner against Bicknor

Alex Knight scored a 91st minute winner to secure the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division One title for Longlevens Reserves, as they beat a battling English Bicknor 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Longlevens needed to win one of their two final games and knew that a win for Whaddon United against Dursley and a defeat at Bicknor would take the title race to a nervy Wednesday night at Oxstalls against Tredworth Tigers.

And after both sides scored in the opening 10 minutes, the game at Worrall Hill looked set to end all square – with both sides fighting hard in a physical encounter.

The news came through that Whaddon were indeed ahead at Dursley, so Craig Martin’s side pushed for a late winner knowing at worst they would get a chance to win the league in midweek.

Alex Knight, who came from work to be on the bench for his side before heading back to Gloucester to complete his shift at full time, was played through by Theo Bevan and produced the title winning finish to spark scenes of celebration for the visitors.

Both sides celebrated in the bar after the game, with English Bicknor delighted with a 4th place finish in the Division One table – showing great progression after last year’s 7th place finish following a relegation battle two seasons ago.

Longlevens will be presented with the title on Wednesday evening, after their final game of the season against Tredworth Tigers.

The visitors started perfectly, with James Barnett chasing down a simple throw in in the Bicknor right back spot and after blocking the clearance, beat the on-rushing keeper to the ball and poked home on 5 minutes.

But Bicknor nearly responded instantly, with Callum Tye found in the box but saw his effort blocked by Rylan Snelgrove.

Tye made a great diagonal run four minutes later though, before holding off his man and lobbing Jack Sargent to make it 1-1/

On a side note, it was great to see Tye play further forward and he was really impressive throughout.

Levens Captain Jack Cornell saw an effort deflected wide for a corner, before Sargent was forced into a great save to palm over a Toby Wildig header.

A great move from the hosts ended with Jordan Burke showing quick feet on the edge of the box, before firing over – but Bicknor were showing they were trying to win the game and letting their visitors know they would have to earn their win.

Cornell side footed home from a free kick, but was flagged offside as he arrived at the back post and Levens nearly had further frustration – but Toby Wildig blazed over after winning the ball inside the box.

A slow second half saw Longlevens make all five changes in the opening 15 minutes, with Theo Bevan, Toby Summers and Alex Knight in particular calming them down on the ball in attacking positions.

The final twenty minutes saw both sides have chances to win the game, as the contest became wide open with Levens committing men forward.

Wildig robbed Rio Spencer on the corner of the box but again fired over, before Kaya Demirok sliding through for Bevan, only for his effort to roll agonisingly past the wrong side of the post.

But as the game ticked into injury time, Levens pressed again and after Barnett combined with Demirok, Bevan slid a pass through for Knight to beat substitute keeper Elliott Jones.

The Longlevens players and bench rushed to the corner to begin celebrations, but nearly had them cut short as a clearance rebounded through for Wildig once more.

With the league’s top scorer going through on goal, it looked set to be heartbreak for the visitors, but Sargent produced a stunning one on one save to win the title there and then.

It was a great game to watch though, with nerves effecting even the most experienced players in the Levens camp and two sides looking to win – on another day Wildig ends the season on 30 goals1

English Bicknor: Crowell, J Davis, Hansen, L Davis, Keeping, Selwyn-James, Burke, McLoud, K Wildig, T Wildig, Tye

Subs: Williams, Riley, Carnegie, Jones, Payne

Longlevens Reserves: Sargent, Morrissey, Snelgrove, Boakes, Kavanagh, Spencer, Rankin, Thornton, Barnett, Blackburn, Cornell

Subs: Marsden-Green, Knight, Bevan, Summers, Demirok

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – James Barnett (Longlevens Reserves)

READ MORE: Check out the list of Saturday’s results in and around Gloucestershire right here