Longlevens Reserves seal promotion with play-off win over Wessex Wanderers

Second half goals from James Barnett and Rio Spencer saw Longlevens Reserves seal their promotion to the Gloucestershire County League in the continually frustrating post season play-offs.

Due to league’s rigidity and borderline stubbornness we found ourselves once again seeing the league winners of the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League, Bristol & Suburban League, Bristol Combination League and once again Hellenic League Division Two go into post season play-offs to decide whether they will be promoted in the County League for the new season.

Is it enjoyable for anyone? No. Is it a bit of joke? Unquestionably, but here we are.

After a goalless first half, Barnett played a neat one two with Brad Martin before poking home, before Barnett himself won a penalty late on – which Rio Spencer stepped up to convert.

It wasn’t at all plain sailing for Craig Martin’s side, who weathered a mini storm in the first half as Jack Sargeant made a string of saves to keep his side level.

And in the end, Longlevens’ fitness and match sharpness from playing until the first week of May paid dividends against a side who wrapped their league title up and played their final league match over a month ago.

You have to feel for Wessex Wanderers, who join the number of teams over recent years to have won their league (by just the 10 points!) but will now rely on teams being in an unfortunate position of having to withdraw from the County League to potentially be promoted and even then, the league will probably reprieve a relegated side than promote which in itself is an absolute shambles.

Wessex started the better and had early chances with Assan Sowe skying his effort from about 8 yards, before Raf Lloyd cut in from the left and had a shot saved by Sargeant.

Lloyd was rapid and tricky and was running Ollie Morrissey ragged for the first 25 minutes in particular, with the Levens full back having to work really hard to keep him at bay.

Lloyd played a great through ball into Thomas Trimble who simply had to score, but like Sowe earlier on, skied his effort when one on one.

Brad Martin was the typical focal point for Longlevens and after he flicked on a long ball on 20 minutes, it eventually fell for James Barnett, who drilled an effort wide from 18 yards.

Moments later, Sargent was the hero again after Lloyd nipped in ahead of Morrissey but Sargeant saved well with his legs.

Just before the half hour mark Longlevens went closest to scoring as Alex Knight let fly from about 25 yards, only to see his effort crash off the bar and away.

A relentless first half ended with Lloyd having two further chances. First he was denied once again by Sargeant when one on one, before he curled wide right on half time.

Longlevens started the second half much better and took the lead within 7 minutes as Barnett got the ball into Martin’s feet, before getting on the end of the return ball to poke across goal and into the bottom corner.

Sargeant produced a stunning double save within five minutes to keep his side ahead, with Lloyd crossing for Trimble, but Sargeant sprung to his left to save before stopping the follow up, although an offside flag would have cut short any celebrations.

Lloyd then curled against the post just after the hour mark as he continued to look the most likely for Wessex, but after Morrissey eventually picked up a yellow card for chopping him down, Barnett swapping to right back and Fin Rankin coming on down the right wing helped Levens control him better in the final 15 minutes.

Rankin clipped down the right to Knight, who cut inside before flashing an effort across goal as Longlevens began to get chances and you could visibly see the Wessex players tiring.

Rankin then found fellow sub Theo Bevan on the left side of the box and after cutting back, saw his effort saved by Thomas Lewis.

Two key moments in the final 10 minutes sealed the win for Levens, with Luke Kavanagh first producing a stunning sliding tackle to take the ball off Alex Photiou’s toes after the ball bounced into the box and he looked set to equalise.

Then with two minutes of normal time remaining, Barnett recycled a corner and after producing a piece of fancy footwork to get down the byline, he was tripped to give Longlevens a penalty.

Rio Spencer stepped up to make it 2-0 and send his side into the Gloucestershire County League – a place both they and Wessex Wanderers should be after winning their respective leagues.

The next date for the circus is play-off two between the Bristol Combination League Champions, Iron Acton and Hellenic Alliance West (Division Two) winners, University of Bristol next Wednesday night, with the winner joining Longlevens Reserves in the gaining promotion.

One thing to note is that James Barnett was named the C Martin Roofing Man of the Match last night, but upon reflection and looking back at the tweets of the game Jack Sargeant was clearly the correct Man of the Match, so they will retrospectively share the honour.

Wessex Wanderers: Lewis, Bowden, R Goldsmith, Aspell, Longley, Berry, Sowe, Costerton, Trimble, Button, Lloyd-Jones

Subs: Coltman, Felix, M Goldsmith, Photiou, Stagg

Longlevens Reserves: Sargeant, Demirok, Morrissey, Kavanagh, Thornton, Spencer, Blackburn, Cornell, Knight, Martin, Barnett

Subs: Boakes, Bevan, Rankin, Summers, Troke

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