Longlevens U18s edge to derby day victory to keep up title bid
Longlevens U18s were made to work hard for victory as they edged past Tuffley Rovers, winning 2-1 on a night that should have been a lot more comfortable.
Codie Beachus’ first half effort had the visitors ahead at half time, before a Theo Bevan penalty made it 2-0 and from there Longlevens should have gone on to run out clear winners, but an inspired James Wilkes kept his side in it.
Precious Abeiya, who had been forced off with a knock in the first half, came back on to set up a nervy finish by rounding Harley Richardson and tapping home.
This gave Tuffley a lift, but the resolute Longlevens back line saw the game out to secure a huge three points in the Cheltenham Youth Floodlit League Premier Division.
Levens have seven games remaining in the league, with five of them against the other three teams in the title race – Gloucester City and home and away games against Slimbridge and Hereford Pegauss.
Brandon Vance’s side are now seven points behind the league leaders, with four games in hand and their destiny in their own hands.
For Tuffley, they were competitive throughout but after a strong start they didn’t really test Richardson consistently enough.
Rovers have six league games left and will believe their performances have warranted more points than their 13 suggests.
Both sides have home games next week, with Levens hosting league leaders Hereford Pegasus on Monday night and Rovers welcoming Slimbridge to Glevum Park 24 hours later.
The hosts started well, Zak Jones won the ball on the edge of the box and laid into the path of Abeiya, but the forward was smothered by three Longlevens defenders and the chance was gone.
A flurry of set pieces followed, but again, Rovers found the hosts’ back line too tough to breakdown for a clear cut opportunity.
Kaelen Venna showed great pace to get in down the left, but his cut back across the six yard was brilliantly slid wide by Kaya Demirok.
Levens were moving the ball well, but not creating too much, but that changed on 17 minutes when Jayden Bee was found in space but his effort was well saved by Wilkes.
The breakthrough came just before the half hour mark, as Thomas Worrall picked the ball up in the centre of the Rovers half and slipped a great through ball into Codie Beachus, who took a touch and rifled into the bottom corner.
From there, the visitors settled and threatened another before the break. Theo Bevan drilled a cross from the right that Wilkes spilt back towards his goal, but was bailed out by his defenders on the line.
Amo Jallowki recycled a free kick on the left hand side, but somehow Beachus side footed over at the back post with Wilkes scrambling across goal.
Wilkes made a huge save in injury time after Beachus shook off a defender to get through on goal. The keeper stood tall, spread himself and kept the deficit to one at the break.
Jallowki countered at speed after the break, feeding Worrall, who cut in before curling over.
And that is how it stayed until 20 minutes remaining, with both sides cancelling each other out. Tuffley were looking to force a leveller, whilst nerves started to creep in for Longlevens who were caught in limbo as to whether to push for a second or try and see the game out.
Dan Carter was tripped in the box, giving Theo Bevan the chance to make it 2-0 from 12 yards, which he duly obliged.
Bevan whipped a free kick towards goal moments later, but Wilkes dived to his left to beat away.
Wilkes denied Bevan again with ten minutes left, saving with an out stretched leg after neat footwork from the forward.
And with two minutes remaining, the arrears were reduced when Abeiya got onto a ball forward, rounded Richardson and tucks home.
That re-ignited Tuffley, but Levens left Theo Myles high as an out ball and they looked to break quickly, with Myles feeding Jayden Bee who came agonisingly close to sealing the deal.
And that brought an entertaining game to a close, with the visitors slightly relieved to have got over the line.
Tuffley Rovers U18s: Wilkes, Tyler, Staite, Ahmed, Smith, Shyamapant, Jones, Mayo, Abeiya, Samuels, Venna
Subs: Roberts, Rose, Bolger-Allen, Mann, Roche
Longlevens U18s: Richardson, Tomlinson, Boakes, Demirok, Jallowki, Bee, Bevan, Perrins, Humphris, Beachus, Worrall
Suba: Walsh, Milton, Myles, Carter, Wood
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – James Wilkes (Tuffley Rovers U18s)
READ MORE: Check out the list of Sunday’s Women’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
