Sutherland stands out and Gwillim scores again as Longlevens beat Tuffley in FA Vase
Early goals from Jack Beardsell and Fin Gwillim saw Longlevens advance in the FA Vase, beating local rivals Tuffley Rovers 2-0 in the first of a Bank Holiday double header between the two.
Beardsell opened the scoring on 3 minutes when a corner fell to him at the back post and he fired in via a deflection.
Levens should have added a second 90 seconds later, but after Beardsell combined with Fin Gwillim, the striker side footed too close to Luke Merchant who saved easily.
But Merchant could do nothing on 14 minutes as Gwillim turned on the half way line, sprayed the ball left to Shiyak Sutherland, who turned one way then the other, before squaring for Gwillim to tap home.
Tuffley were let off with their slow start on Tuesday night, but Longlevens punished the hosts for not settling into their rhythm in the first 20 minutes.
With a two goal cushion, Longlevens’ back line began sticking to their task and the hosts found clear cut chances at a premium.
Jamie Creed dragged an effort wide, before Levens had further chances through Gwillim – but he flashed one across goal and wide, then having an effort blocked.
Jay Wells was unlucky to have been deemed to foul Callum McGuirk as he carried the ball down the left hand side, with his ball in turned home by Lewis Driscoll, only for a free kick to be given after a shoulder to shoulder.
The second half saw Tuffley win an early free kick, but once again Creed was unable to test Billy Thomas.
Wells then headed a long throw in towards goal, but Luke Merchant was able to palm the ball out of the top corner.
From there frustrations were coming to the fore for Rovers, as Longlevens began to play for time and see the game out.
Harley Mustoe hacked down Lewis Driscoll to give us the first real flash point in the contest and was booked for the tackle.
The next flash point came on 65 minutes when Jack Beardsell was tripped by Corey Warrington and ran into the Tuffley man in retaliation – both were cautioned after some pushing and shoving.
In the end, Tuffley just didn’t have enough quality to break down a stubborn Longlevens defence, with Eli Simpson heading wide from a Warrington corner – their best chance at setting up a grandstand finish.
Longlevens looked set to add a third with 10 minutes left, but as Driscoll chested down in the box, substitute Callum McLean made a superb last ditch tackle to take it off his toes.
The second half saw Shiyak Sutherland really dictate proceedings by being a constant out ball for Longlevens and having the agility to skip past the Tuffley players and get his side up the field – much to the annoyance of the hosts.
Longlevens go through to host Slimbridge in the Second Qualifying Round on Saturday 20 September.
Both sides will do battle once again on Bank Holiday Monday, when they meet at Saw Mills in the Hellenic Premier – you would expect a Tuffley reaction, but if Longlevens defend as well as they did today then they will be hard to beat.
Tuffley Rovers: Merchant, Mustoe, Clifford, Simpson, Pritchett, McGuirk, Warrington, Alder, Chambers; Creed, Walters
Subs: Herbert, Bevan, Mason; McLean, Smith
Longlevens: Thomas, Roddis, Wells, Long, R Williams, C Williams, Holmes, Beardsell, Driscoll, Gwillim, Sutherland
Subs: Martin, Byard, Sherchan, Cornwall, Lodge
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Shiyak Sutherland (Longlevens)
READ MORE: Check out the list of Saturday’s results in and around Gloucestershire right here
