Longlevens Reserves earn first County League win thanks to resilient defensive display
Longlevens Reserves secured their first win since being promoted to the County League, with a hard earned 3-1 win over AFC Mangotsfield Rocks on Friday night.
Goals from Jack Cornell and James Barnett either side of a Jordan Laraway equaliser had the hosts ahead at the break – with Fin Rankin rifling home a third to secure all three points for Longlevens.
After both sides went into the game without a victory this season, Longlevens will be hoping Friday’s result will kick start their season as they continue to adapt to a higher division.
They now have a ten day break before their next game, before heading to Bishops Cleeve Development on Tuesday 1 September, with a Les James League Cup First Round tie at home to Chalford on Friday 4 September.
AFC Mangotsfield Rocks have a full two week break, with a home game with Broadwell Amateurs next up for them on Saturday 5 September.
Friday night’s game started with the visitors on the front foot and looking really good on the ball in the opening twenty minutes or so.
Rocks created a number of chances, with Callum Macey heading wide before his cross from the left was palmed onto the bar with a great stop from stand-in Levens keeper, Jack Stokes.
Rowan Smith curled wide from 20 yards with Rocks’ third chance in the opening 11 minutes as they turned the screw on the hosts.
But typically as football goes, Longlevens would score with their first shot of the game. Luke Kavanagh’s ball forward was flicked on by Brad Martin into the path of Jack Cornell – who raced through on goal before slotting home.
Despite their lead, the hosts didn’t look comfortable though, with their back four having to do way too much in a very open half.
Stokes produced another great stop to turn Stuart Nelson’s header round the post, but from the resulting corner the initial header came back off the bar – falling for Jordan Laraway to nod home from close range.
On half an hour, Fin Rankin was picked out on the edge of the box but fired over – but the openings were there for Levens in what felt like a basketball game.
James Barnett restored his side’s lead ten minutes before the break, taking a touch on the edge of the box before his effort was too hot to handle for Rocks keeper Alan Ghafoor.
Levens should have been further ahead just before half time when Brad Martin won the ball on the edge of the box, but he could only side foot straight at Ghafoor.
The hosts were much better after the break, with Rocks limited to mostly half chances.
Cornell found a great ball through to Rankin, but after a heavy first touch he could only flash his effort across goal and wide.
Cornell then cut back from the left side of the box and somehow Theo Bevan just couldn’t force the ball home from within the six yard box – with two or three defenders swarming on him as the ball got stuck in his feet.
But with just over twenty minutes remaining, Levens struck the killer blow as substitute Kaya Demirok showed great composure and awareness in the box to turn sharply and thread into the path of Rankin – who rifled into the top corner from the angle.
Leo Marsden-Green should have added a fourth moments later, but after Rankin’s cut back he could only sky his effort from about six yards.
Levens were the most likely to score again in the final fifteen minutes, with the defence standing firm and repelling any Rocks attacks.
Michael Cavallaro needed got on the scoresheet after coming onto the pitch, but headed wide after Barnett nodded a free kick back across goal, before Rankin sent the final chance of the game wide of the post in the 85th minute.
Levens claim a big first win ahead of a busy September that sees cup games against Chalford and Frampton United alongside tough league games with Bishops Cleeve Development, Filton Athletic and Stoke Gifford SGS United.
Longlevens Reserves: Stokes, Barnett, Snelgrove, Boakes, Kavanagh, O’Connor, Rankin, Brown, Martin, Cornell, Bevan
Subs: Walsh, Alderman, Demirok, Marsden-Green, Cavallaro
AFC Mangotsfield Rocks: Ghafoor, Sumner, Cook, Morgan, Nelson, Laraway, Macey, Batt, Waterman, Smith, Hughes
Subs: Wyatt, Okoko, Sims, Steward, Dosti
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – James Barnett (Longlevens Reserves)
READ MORE: Check out the list of fixtures in and around Gloucestershire this Saturday right here
