Longlevens U18s snatch victory from jaws of defeat with late show against Gloucester City
Longlevens U18s earned a dramatic three points in the Cheltenham Youth Floodlit League, beating Gloucester City U18s 2-1 at the TigerTurf Stadium.
An 88th minute equaliser from Henry Driver-Dickerson looked set to see the points shared, but substitute Oskar Pigan popped up with a 93rd minute winner to spark scenes of celebrations on the Levens bench.
Gloucester City had taken the lead through Dylan Meek’s 66th minute effort, but with the game slowly drifting away from Longlevens, they produced a stunning comeback.
The win sees Longlevens back up their opening week win at Ledbury Town to move to joint top of the Northern Division table, with Gloucester back in 4th with a one win and one loss from their first two games.
The goalless first half started with Dylan Meek having an effort saved, before Junior Kposowa somehow missing from about six yards, with the whole goal to aim at.
Longlevens’ first chance came moments later, as Ryan Snelgrove’s cross was scuffed towards goal by Driver-Dickerson.
Fin Rankin, who was one of the stand-outs on the night, worked space down the right for Longlevens, with his cross turned behind by a City defender – with Fin Thompson having an effort saved rom the resulting corner.
Thompson stepped up to whip a free kick towards goal, but Philip Chovenac saved easily enough, with the City keeper making a great stop to keep out Driver-Dickerson right on half time.
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Driver-Dickerson had the first chance of the second half, but after turning on the edge of the box, his effort was deflected wide.
Just as the game began to start drifting away from both sides, Dylan Meek worked space on the edge of the box but saw his shot saved by Jack Sargent.
From the resulting corner, Sargent punched out only as far as Meek, who fired into the top corner from 18 yards.
Both sides created chances in quick succession with 15 minutes left, with a Longlevens corner resulting in an effort being blocked on it’s way to goal and Zac Pinchard forcing Sargent into a smart stop down the other end.
And with ten minutes to go, City should have killed the game, as Henri Francis chased a long ball, but with Sargent scrambling back into his own box, Francis couldn’t quite force his effort on goal.
Then with the game looking set to end in defeat for the visitors, a diagonal into the box was guided past Chovenac by Driver-Dickerson.
But even before Longlevens won it, Zac Pinchard came close to a winner for the hosts, but his 18 yard effort brushed a Longlevens head and flew just wide.
And the sting in the tail for Gloucester came in the third minute of stoppage time as Oskar Pigan was played in and he slotted past Chovenac, who he beat to the ball.
Longlevens are back in action on Monday night, when they host Bromyard Town to Saw Mills – whilst Gloucester City have another home game next Friday night, with Hereford Pegasus the visitors.
Gloucester City U18s: Chovenac, Kenneh, Francis, Warren, Sullivan, Bradburn, Morgan, Kposowa, Oliver, Meek, Thomas-Phillips
Subs: Pinchard, Williams, Carpenter, Giles
Longlevens U18s: Sargent, Snelgrove, Knight, Boakes, Esson, Thompson, Knight, Vye, Rankin, Driver-Dickerson, Worrell
Subs: Mitchell, Bee, Pigan
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Henry Driver-Dickerson (Longlevens U18s)
READ MORE: Check out the list of fixtures in and around Gloucestershire this Saturday right here
READ MORE: Check out the Women’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire this Sunday right here
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