Longlevens U18s secure CYFL North title with win over Gloucester City

Longlevens U18s clinched the North Division of the CYFL U18s league, beating Gloucester City 2-0 on Friday night.

An own goal midway through the first half had Brandon Vance’s side ahead at the break, before a stunning second from Fin Rankin ultimately sealed the deal for his side, who still have two games left to play.

The league tweeted following the game that Longlevens will be presented with their trophy after Monday night’s home game against Cinderford Town.

The result also means that Levens will head into the end of season play-offs and City needing to better Hereford Pegasus’ result in their final games to extend their season.

Longlevens will be set to play the runners up in the South Division, Bishops Cleeve, whilst either Pegasus or City will play South Division winners, Dursley Town.

The dates and venues for each match are to be confirmed.

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Both sides started the game well, fighting for every ball and really making it tough for either side to create too many clear cut chances.

On 14 minutes though, Longlevens should have been ahead. A free kick came in from the left hand side and after the ball fell in the middle of the box, Sam Kelly fired an effort straight at Philip Chovanec.

But the hosts didn’t have to wait too long for their opener and it came in fortunate fashion.

After Fin Rankin made a great diagonal run to the near post, his flicked effort hit Chovanec on it’s way to the bar and the rebound was sliced into his own net by Alf Bradburn.

From there, both sides continued to cancel each other out. Lewis Vye and Kaya Demrick in the Longlevens midfield were working incredibly hard to try and maintain the initiative as the half wore on.

Henry Driver-Dickerson had the next best chance of the half, but after cutting inside onto his left foot, his 18 yarder was palmed over by Chovanec.

City went close to a leveller 40 seconds into the second half, but Jakson Taylor-Phillips volleyed just wide on the spin after some good hold up play from Junior Kposowa.

Then with just under 10 minutes of the second half on the clock, Longlevens struck the killer second blow.

Fin Rankin lead a counter down the right hand side and after having a quick glance, whipped an effort over Chovanec from wide on the right.

The goal sparked major celebrations on the Longlevens bench, who knew it wasn’t perfect but it was a great response to the HFA Giantkillers Cup final defeat on Tuesday night.

Driver-Dickerson had a number of chances in the final half an hour, but found Chovanec too stubborn to beat and the hosts had to settle for two.

The best chances City could create saw an Aaron Jenkins cross volleyed towards goal, only for Jack Sargent to produce a great save to keep his clean sheet intact.

Chovanec did well to save in yet another one on one with five minutes to go, saving from Thomas Whorrall, but there was nothing the Severn Sport Player of the Month for March could do to prevent his side from suffering defeat.

Both sides conclude their regular season fixtures next week, with Longlevens hosting Cinderford Town on Monday night, before heading to Cheltenham Saracens next Thursday (17 April), whilst City head to Ledbury Town on Tuesday night.

Longlevens U18s: Sargent, Pierce, Kelly, Boakes, Snelgrove, Demrick, Sherchan, Vye, Whorrall, Driver-Dickerson, Rankin

Subs: F Knight, Esson, Bee, Mitchell, Humphries

Gloucester City U18s: Chovanec, Chance, Henderson, Warren, Sullivan, Bradburn, Taylor Phillips, Kposowa, Jenkins, Oliver, Francis

Subs: Pinchard, Carpenter

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Kaya Demrick & Lewis Vye (Longlevens U18s)