Longlevens end run of defeats with confidence building Derby Day win over Tuffley
Longlevens ended a tough run of defeats with a 1-0 win over local rivals Tuffley Rovers, at Saw Mills.
Jack Beardsell’s 23rd minute header proved to be decisive, as the hosts saw out the game with a battling performance.
Tuffley Rovers will know that it was a missed opportunity for them, with too many of their players struggling to go through the gears and force home a leveller.
Going into the game, Rovers would have been favourites on form – having produced a decent start to the campaign, whilst Longlevens had conceded 18 goals in their last four games in all competitions.
But the game started slow, as expected, with both sides finding their footing in the contest.
Shaun O’Connor volleyed wide for Longlevens, Beardsell had an effort saved by Merchant and Tuffley had a number of free kicks into the box, with no end result.
Joe Westrip and Kieran Alder exchanged fouls that would have been yellow cards on another day, but both got on with the game and continued to battle hard.
Rovers forward, Karnell Chambers, had a driven effort saved by Kane Winman – before Brad Bevan scuffed his follow up across goal.
And then, Sam Kelly’s corner from the right was headed home by Beardsell, who continued his good form in games against his former side.
From there, Longlevens kept Tuffley at an arms length for the remainder of the half, with Ollie Long blocking Connor Walters’ effort and the Levens backline clearing everything they could.
The only negative of the half for Longlevens saw Shaun O’Connor trudge off before the break, having not been able to recover after getting a kick in the ankle.
Beardsell went close with the first chance of the second half, but Luke Merchant saved well.
A flurry of balls into the Longlevens box saw Tuffley win a corner, from which, Macaulay Herbert headed just wide.
Rovers introduced Tyrel Roberts from the bench on the hour mark and the change made them look more balanced – with Roberts trying to pin himself against Long and Austin Parker.
But this saw Karnell Chambers pushed out to the left and there was almost an over-reliance on him to create chances and he was forced well too deep to try and get on the ball.
Kieran Alder hit the wall with a free kick on the edge of the box, before Chambers stood a ball up from the left that bounced off the bar.
Winman made two smart saves in the final 15 minutes, to keep out Chambers and then Alder, as Tuffley huffed and puffed but lacked a cutting edge in the final third.
The full time whistle brought with it loud cheers from the Longlevens bench and fans, knowing that their high intensity levels in their performance sets the standard they will need to build on going forward.
Their efforts were epitomised by Cam Williams, who in the final 20 minutes in particular, covered every blade of grass and didn’t stop running for his side.
Next up for Longlevens, is the re-arranged home game against Worcester Raiders on Saturday, whilst Tuffley are next in action away at Westfields on Tuesday 3 September.
Longlevens: Winman, Roddis, Kelly, Long, Parker, Westrip, Williams, O’Connor, Beardsell, D Gayner, Haswell
Subs: Richardson, Brown, McCormack, A Gayner, Rose
Tuffley Rovers: Merchant, Hicks, Clifford, Simpson, Herbert, McGuirk, Turner, Alder, Chambers, Bevan, Walters
Subs: Mustoe, Roberts, Lee, Smith, Weaver
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Cam Williams (Longlevens)
