Longlevens see off Swans to advance in the GFA Challenge Trophy

A superb first half display was enough to see Longlevens edge past Slimbridge 2-1, to advance to the Quarter Finals of the GFA Challenge Trophy.

In a half that saw them create a number of big chances, goals from Fin Gwillim and Jay Wells had the hosts 2-0 up at the break – a lead they held onto well enough.

Aaron Evans-Harriot squandered an 87th minute penalty, before pulling one back in stoppage time – but it was too little too late and Buster Davies & Pete Boyle’s side secured their second win over Slimbridge in the last month.

Levens go on to play host to the winner of Cribbs vs Chipping Sodbury Town – with their tie next midweek.

Both sides head into further cup action this weekend, with Levens hosting Mangotsfield United in the Hellenic League Challenge Cup, whilst Slimbridge have a huge FA Vase tie at home to Amesbury Town.

The start of the game was very open, with both sides looking to get on the front foot early on.

Levens should have been ahead on 6 minutes when Shiyak Sutherland was found on the left hand side, beat his man and pulled across for Lewis Driscoll – who swept his effort straight at Stephen Sarkodie.

The Swans went close moments later after winning a corner, with Charlie Hitchings getting up to head over from the ball in.

There were a couple of warning signs for Slimbridge as Levens saw two balls into the box met by free Longlevens headers at goal.

First, Jack Beardsell’s cross was nodded wide by Cam Williams, who was allowed to ghost into the box unmarked – then Williams’ free kick from the right hand side was headed straight at Sarkodie by Wells.

But the hosts took their deserved lead on 18 minutes when a long ball forward saw Sutherland close down the on-rushing Sarkodie, with the keeper only able to head the ball into the path of Gwillim, who rolled the ball into the empty net for his 14th goal of the season.

It should have been 2-0 within moments, but Gwillim fired straight at Sarkodie after weaving his way past three defenders into the box.

In a first half that saw Longlevens put serious pressure on the Slimbridge goal, the tie felt like it was getting away from the Swans massively.

Gwillim got into space down the left and saw his drilled effort nearly diverted into his own net by Jacob Rodgers, but the visitors were left relieved that the ball flew straight at Sarkodie.

With ten minutes left of the half, Levens got their second, when Lewis Driscoll’s free kick from deep looked set to be claimed by Sarkodie – however he was beaten in the air by Wells who nodded home.

Gwillim was having a stormer of a half and he went close to creating and finding a third in the final moments of the half – first he pulled back for Driscoll, who curled straight at Sarkodie, before he worked space on the edge of the box and curled just wide.

At the break it felt like Slimbridge were lucky to only be 2-0 behind, with the only positive to see Sam Blackie back playing for the Swans.

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The second half was a much more cagey affair, with Longlevens visibly taking their foot off the gas and Slimbridge knowing they have bigger fish to fry than a County Cup tie that looked beyond them, this weekend.

Shiyak Sutherland had the best chance of the half when he won the ball down the left hand side, dribbled into the box and tried to dink it over Sarkodie instead of squaring to Gwillim and the chance was wasted.

Slimbridge’s best spell came in the final 10 minutes, with Evans-Harriot seeing more of the ball – although Drew Brei remained untested.

But with three minutes left, the Swans were given a lifeline as Theo Browne beat the offside trap and was brought down by Brei for a penalty.

In a moment to sum up Slimbridge’s night, Evans-Harriot stepped up to scuff the penalty wide as he seemingly lost his footing.

But Evans-Harriot got his goal in the first minute of stoppage time, when he worked space in the box and drilled into the bottom corner.

Longlevens saw the game out easily enough and will look to continue their good cup form this season at the weekend, whilst Slimbridge will be looking to advance into the 4th Round of the FA Vase for the first time since 2006/07.

Longlevens: Brei, Roddis, Byard, Spencer, Wells, Sherchan, Beardsell, Williams, Gwillim, Driscoll, Sutherland

Subs: O’Connor, Knight, Lodge, Bryan, Mason

Slimbridge: Sarkodie, Hunt, Rodgers, Soule, Hitchings, Haswell, Browne, Blackie, Olateju, Bell, Evans-Harriot

Subs: Ponting, Mathews, Kang, Shutt, Holder

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Fin Gwillim (Longlevens)