Longlevens through to Challenge Trophy Semi Final with victory over Cribbs
Longlevens secured their second cup Semi Final by beating Cribbs in a Quarter Final for the second time in eight days, running out 3-0 winners in the GFA Challenge Trophy.
Having won in the Floodlit Cup at Cribbs last midweek, Longlevens went into the game at Saw Mills off the back of a 2-0 defeat away at Highworth at the weekend.
Ben Lodge slid in an opener before half time, before second half efforts from Ollie Long and Brad Martin saw the hosts set up a second Semi Final this season.
Ahead of their Semi Final trip to Worcester Raiders in the Floodlit Cup, Levens now have three tough home league games in a row in Corsham Town, Pershore Town and Mangotsfield United in the next ten days.
The two sides meet again at the end of March, as Cribbs return to Gloucester as they continue their bid to beat the drop in the Hellenic Premier.
Cribbs settled into the game much quicker of the two sides, with Joe Davis curling over twice in the first 10 minutes as the hosts struggled for rhythm.
But Longlevens broke the deadlock with their first meaningful chance, as Brad Martin flicked on a Drew Brei goal kick for Jack Beardsell.
Beardsell poked past the on-rushing keeper, with Ben Lodge on hand to slide home from close range.
Lodge went close to a second moments later as Shaun O’Connor helped a ball into the box and the winger screwing an effort straight at Jude Brown.
From there the game became really balanced, with both sides cancelling each other out in a pretty even fixture.
Longlevens introduced Jack Byard at left back and he injected some much needed quality in the game, upping the tempo and combining well with Lodge and O’Connor down the left.
Byard and Lodge combined well to slide through for substitute Alex Knight, who found Beardsell in the box but the Levens man could only head straight at Brown.
Beardsell then wasted a golden chance for 2-0 after being picked out by Byard, but after side stepping a defender, he could only pass an effort at Brown.
But Levens got their second moments later as Lewis Driscoll’s long throw in was flicked on for Ollie Long to sweep home from close range.
With just under twenty minutes left the tie was secured for the hosts as Shaun O’Connor’s low free kick bounced through to the middle of the goal, leaving Brad Martin a simple finish – which he took, almost apologetically.
Longlevens are now set to head to Stonehouse Town in the Semi Final of the Challenge Trophy, with Bitton facing Roman Glass St George in the other Semi Final – the date of the ties are to be confirmed.
Longlevens: Brei, Roddis, Wells, Long, Spencer, O’Connor, Beardsell, Williams, Martin, Driscoll, Lodge
Subs: Winman, Byard, Sherchan, Knight
Cribbs: Brown, Farrow, Oppong, Clayton, Barry, Ibao, Davis, Sullivan, Boyer, Sweete, Stock
Subs: Coleman, Lock, Smith-Lawrence, Lee, Roberts
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Ollie Long (Longlevens)
READ MORE: Check out the list of 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
