Longlevens Reserves crowned Champions and complete GNSL campaign with victory over Tredworth Tigers
Longlevens Reserves recieved the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division One title on Wednesday night, before completing their regular season with a 3-0 win over Tredworth Tigers.
After a tough goalless first half, James Barnett scored twice before Alex Knight rifled home a third late on to see the visitors end with 22 wins from their 26 league matches.
Levens now head into the County League play-offs, joining Wessex Wanderers, Iron Acton and University of Bristol as champions of the feeder leagues and will meet Wessex in the first of two play-off games.
Longlevens vs Wessex takes place at GFA Headquarters at Oaklands Park on Wednesday 13 May, with Iron Acton facing University of Bristol the following Wednesday.
The two winners of their respective play-off games will gain promotion into the Gloucestershire County League for the 2026/27 season.
Tredworth Tigers end their season in 8th place in the Division One table and will look to build on a fairly comfortable campaign next season.
The first half was very open, due to a rushed start due to the game being moved to Blackbridge Sports Hub and the teams only getting a minute warm up.
Reuban Barney and Jacob Ferguson combined for the hosts on 5 minutes, with the latter curling over from 18 yards.
Levens responded with a Brad Martin free kick, which was easily saved and a Fin Rankin header over from a Rylan Snelgrove cross.
Brad Martin should have broken the deadlock on 32 minutes after a corner was cleared and helped back in by Ollie Morrissey.
Due to a Tredworth defender being down in the six yard box, Martin was left onside, but he volleyed straight at Brad Jones from close range.
Martin nodded wide moments later, before Tredworth had their best chance right on half time as a corner was headed off the post by Jai Mann, with Jack Sargent clawing the rebound off his line.
Four minutes into the second half saw Levens win a corner as Jones got down well to turn an Alex Knight effort round the post, but he could do nothing to stop James Barnett hooking home from the resulting corner.
Barnett added a second just before the hour mark after a corner came back out to Jack Cornell, with the Levens skipper crossing from the left and Barnett guiding his header past Jones.
Moments later Tredworth would have thought they were back in it. Barney cut in from the right before curling beautifully towards the top corner.
From the sideline the effort was destined for the corner, only for Sargent to fly to his left and palm over in a stunning save.
Ten minutes later it was game over as Knight was found in the box and after getting the ball out of his feet, the winger smashed past Jones to complete the scoring.
After winning GNSL Division One and now being officially crowned Champions, Longlevens head to Almondsbury 90 minutes away from playing in the County League next season.
Tredworth Tigers: Jones, Russell, Mace, Mann, Njikho, Halliday, Johnson, Ferguson, Barney, Rodgers, Cunningham
Subs: Whereat, Richardson, McGrath, Hale
Longlevens Reserves: Sargent, Morrissey, Snelgrove, Kavanagh, Thornton, Demirok, Rankin, Knight, Martin, Barnett, Bevan
Subs: Blackburn, Boakes, Cornell, Walsh, Spencer
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Mike Thornton (Longlevens Reserves)
READ MORE: Check out the list of the Saturday’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
READ MORE: Check out the list of Sunday’s Women’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
