Longlevens secure well earned point with draw against 10-man Devizes Town
Fin Gwillim’s 85th effort was enough to earn Longlevens a 1-1 draw with Devizes Town – extending his side’s unbeaten run to nine matches in all competitions.
After a goalless first half, Devizes sub Jamie Walters nodded his side ahead in an evenly fought encounter.
But the game sparked into life with ten minutes remaining as Devizes sub Dan Demkiv was sent off after only 80 seconds or so on the pitch.
Gwillim struck five minutes later, with Alex Knight, Gino Valenti and Harrison Reeves all have chances late on to take all three points.
Longlevens have now gone seven league games without defeat, ahead of a trip to Royal Wootton Bassett Town next weekend, before their FA Vase visit to Cirencester Town the following weekend.
Saturday’s result sees Levens sitting in 11th place in the Hellenic Premier table, having earned 19 points from their first 13 league matches – a return that didn’t look likely when they ended August with just 2 points.
The game saw the Hellenic Premier’s top two in the form table facing off, with Devizes also unbeaten in the league since the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Lewis Driscoll fired at goal on the spin inside two minutes, but his effort was easily gathered by Alfie Kelsey in the Devizes goal.
With the visitors’ first chance of the game, Callum Parsons rifled an effort off the crossbar, before Drew Brei recovered to palm over Jack Baker’s headed rebound.
An even first half saw both sides using and moving the ball well, without too many chances in the opening 25 minutes or so.
Walters entrered the field in place of Matt Swan, who was forced off with an injury for the visitors.
The visitors hit the woodwork for a second time on 34 minutes, when a free kick from the left was flicked onto the bar once again.
A late flurry to the half saw the hosts end strongly though, with Kelsey saving at the near post from Ethan Vaughan, before beating away a bouncing volley from Cam Williams.
Devizes struck just before the hour mark though, as a corner from the right was overhit, before being recycled.
From the resulting ball in, the ball was headed back across goal and Walters was on hand to nod home from close range.
Devizes were good value at that point, having started the second half on the front foot – but Longlevens were playing like they were capable of getting back into the contest.
Fin Gwillim nearly provided the leveller after nipping in on a poor touch in the Devizes back line, but after rushing into the box, Gwillim poked across goal with the ball agonisingly too far ahead of Alex Parsons – who was arriving at the back post.
Luke Troke’s cross was volleyed wide by Gwillim, before the game started to trickle away from the hosts.
But then, with twn minutes remaining, Dan Demkiv was dismissed after a challenge on Troke as he went to clear up te pitch.
The red card sparked Levens back into life, with the visitors sinking back to try and see the game out, but with five minutes remaining got the goal they deserved.
Cam Williams kept an attack alive, twice, with the second time of Williams flicking the ball back into the box the ball fell for Gwillim, who cut inside of his man before sending his effort in off the post.
The hosts nearly took all three points moments later, but Williams and then Alex Knight both had efforts deflected through to Kelsey.
With the final touch of the game, substitute Harrison Reeves worked a neat one two with Gwillim before seeing his goalbound effort headed away.
In the end, a draw was a fair reflection of the 90 minutes with both sides coming off the pitch knowing it was a good point against strong opposition and most importantly, both sides’ respective unbeaten runs continue.
Longelvens: Brei, Roddis, Troke, Long, Wells, Hunt, Vaughan, Williams, Gwillim, Driscoll, Parsons
Subs: Byard, Rose, Knight, Valenti, Reeves
Devizes Town: Kelsey, Summerfield, Bowyer, Taylor, Bazley, Swan, C Demkiv, Baker, Hopkins, Roper, Parsons
Subs: D Demkiv, Walters, Curtis, Palmer
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Fin Gwillim (Longlevens)
READ MORE: Check out the list of Saturday’s results in and around Gloucestershire right here
