Dursley maintain perfect start with comeback win over Longlevens Reserves

Dursley Town scored three second half goals to make it six wins out of six in GNSL Division One – winning 4-2 away at Longlevens Reserves on Wednesday night.

After trailing 2-1 at the break, goals from Theo Browne and Ryan Stevenson, either side of a Ben Dolbear penalty saw Karl Nash’s side maintain their 100% league record so far this campaign.

Longlevens had been in front twice, with James Barnett restoring their lead before half time, following David Onakoya’s opener being cancelled out by a deflected Ben Dolbear strike.

The game itself started with both sides looking for the crucial first goal. Ollie Morrissey had an effort saved inside the first five minutes, before Jam Dare scuffed wide for the hosts.

Dursley had lost Harrison Reeves in the warm up, and they were caught out on 10 minutes, when Dare’s ball in from the right was turned home by Onakoya.

Jake Dolbear created space down the right for Dursley, but saw his cross flicked away in the six yard box by the recovering Rob Perry.

Theo Browne came close to a leveller just before the half hour mark, but his header was well saved by Levens keeper, Theo Boakes.

Longlevens nearly doubled their lead with a terrific curling Jam Dare effort, but it curled just past the upright.

And the sting in the tail for the hosts came moments later when Ben Dolbear’s 18 yard effort took a deflection and looped over Boakes’ out-stretched arm.

But Longlevens would still go into the break ahead, after Perry’s long, straight free kick was touched down and slotted home by James Barnett for his sixth goal in ten matches.

VOTE: Vote for Severn Sport in the Football Content Awards 2024 right here

Visit https://www.facebook.com/mortgageadvicegloucestershire for your financial planning needs

The first chance of the second half saw Ash Caldwell slip over as he fired wide. – it wasn’t too close of an effort, just funny that it happened.

But the visitors didn’t have to wait too long for their second equaliser and it came as Browne beat the offside trap down the right hand side, closed in on Boakes and made no mistake with his finish.

Browne’s goal sparked Dursley into life, with Deakin heading wide at the back post, before the game-deciding fifth goal came with twenty two minutes left on the clock.

After Deakin worked space down the left, he was brought down for a penalty. It looked soft, but there were no complaints from the Longlevens defenders as there was definite contact.

Either way, Ben Dolbear stepped up to convert his second of the game, firing his penalty into the bottom corner to give Dursley the lead for the first time.

And Nash’s boys sealed the deal with three minutes to go, as Ryan Stevenson broke through on goal, holding off Phil Blackburn and slotting past Boakes, who had no chance.

The win puts Dursley top of the table, having played a game more than 2nd place Tewkesbury Town, ahead of a home game with Hardwicke on Saturday afternoon.

For Longlevens, they sit in 4th place, with a five wins and two defeats from their opening seven league matches – up next for them is a tricky home fixture with Bibury at the weekend.

Longlevens Reserves: Boakes, Kent, Onakoya, Perry, Aruno, Williams, McLean, Morrissey, Barnett, Dare, Emmett

Subs: Snelgrove, Stokes, Rankin, Twyning, Blackburn

Dursley Town: Rosewell, Billings, Woodman, Poskett, J Dolbear, Ponting, B Dolbear, Gray, Browne, Caldwell, Deakin

Subs: Weyman, Monday, Harmer, Stevenson, Reeves

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Theo Browne (Dursley Town)