Thomas the busier keeper as Brimscombe and Longlevens play out a draw
Billy Thomas made a string of second half saves to ensure his Brimscombe & Thrupp side reduced Longlevens to a point – in a game both could have won, but couldn’t have afforded to lose.
After a goalless first half, Josh Kerr thumped the hosts ahead just before the hour mark, only for Longlevens debutant Morgan Ewing to level the scoring with a beautiful curled effort that left the former Swindon Supermarine keeper helpless.
It was a game that has massive implications at the bottom of the Hellenic Premier table, with defeat with either side nearing on a catastrophe – but both will have to settle for a point, which felt about fair at the time.
Brimscombe shaded the first half, whilst Longlevens had the better of the second – finishing the game strong and forcing Thomas into a number of stops.
After Ewing’s strike, Thomas did well to deny Shiyak Sutherland from range, before producing a game saving effort to get back and claw Ewing’s deflected shot away from the far corner.
Thomas denied Sutherland an 89th minute winner, after the winger broke into the box and fired across goal.
The draw does neither side a favour really, with Brimscombe remaining bottom of the table on 7 points, whilst Longlevens remain two points above them in 16th – although the Lilywhites have two games in hand.
Both sides face tough weekend fixutres, with Brimscombe heading to Westfields, who won 11-0 at the Meadow last month, whilst Longlevens host promotion-chasing Highworth Town.
The game started nervy, with both sides sloppy in possession and hurried in their play.
Brimscombe settled quicker, however were forced into an early change as Player/Manager Jamie Martin limped off in the 11th minute.
Josh Kerr was issued the first yellow card of the night for a crunching tackle on Sam Kelly, who continues to impress as left back for Levens.
Raiyan Ahmed was the brightest spark of the half, leading Brimscombe forward on a number of counter attacks in the first 25 minutes and seemingly had the better of Austin Parker for the most part.
Ahmed had a great chance on 27 minutes, before dragged his effort across goal after getting on the end of a long ball.
Kelly was a threat for Longlevens throughout the game, with his set pieces on the money more often than not. His first on half an hour was headed over by Jack Beardsell.
The 17-year old full back then sent a rasping effort over from about 25 yards, before Beardsell did the same moments later.
Thomas made his first save of the night just before half time, diving to his right to beat away Shaun O’Connor’s 20 yard effort, whilst his opposite number Kane Winman made his first real stop right on half time, to keep out Dan Martin’s sweeping shot from inside the box.
Longlevens included two new signings in their ranks, with Ewing replacing fellow Hartpury student Vladyslav Yarmolenko 10 minutes into the second half.
The deadlock was broken just before the hour mark, as a free kick from the right was cleared out to Kerr and the Brimscombe defender’s strike flew past Winman.
Harrison Archer nearly doubled the hosts advantage three minutes later, but his effort deflected onto the upright and away and realistically, that was as good as it got for Jamie Martin’s side.
Ewing curled in the equaliser from the right corner of the box, before Longlevens finished the game in the ascendancy.
Levens peppered the Brimscombe box in the final quarter of an hour, with Kelly’s corners a constant threat.
Matt Emmett nearly forced one home at the back post, whilst a goalbound header was inadvertently blocked by Cam Williams.
Positives to take for both sets of Managers, with the main one being “at least we didn’t lose.”
Brimscombe & Thrupp: Thomas, T Griffin, Skittrall, Stokes, Kerr, Odiero, J Martin, Lee, Phin, D Martin, Ahmed
Subs: Blackford, Archer, Kemper, D Griffin, Marks
Longlevens: Winman, Parker, Kelly, Long, Perry, Sutherland, C Williams, O’Connor, Emmett, Beardsell, Yarmolenko
Subs: Ewing, R Williams, Brown, Cornell, Haswell
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Billy Thomas (Brimscombe & Thrupp)
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