Longlevens 3 v 1 Hallen AFC

Longlevens first team squad continued their preseason match progress with the visitors being Hallen of the Toolstation Western League.Premier Division on a unfamiliar Friday night kick off.

As Longlevens players and the match officials lined up Levens missed a great opportunity to kick off and go down the pitch and score into an empty goal whilst our focused visitors continued for several minutes their pre-match warm up routines, seemingly oblivious. Strange! Maybe funny?

It wasn't really a missed opportunity as Levens swept forward when proper play did get underway in any case,

From a Dunn right wing corner big Josh Westcarr making his first appearance of the season planted a towering header against the underside of the bar and as usual there was Brad Martin swoopingclose by to give the lead.

This became so far Levens best all round as a team and each player performance of the season and Levens went close several times to extend their lead such as with Shaun O'Connor bringing a great save out of the Hallen keeper with a glove stinging shot.

Although the Levens defence had been untroubled then against the tide Hallen pulled a goal back and their smallest player Liam Henderson was allowed a free header which hit the underside of the bar and weirdly spun back into the Levens' net with keeper Ollie Hall and his fellow defenders trying desperately and vainly to stop the ball crossing the line, But it was the best first 45 minutes of the season play by everyone of Levens.

In the second half there was no collapse this time and a great defence splitting ball from Merrick but Craig Martin still impacting on the pitch clear and his hard shot was pushed away for a corner. From the corner by McDonald Craig Martin broke free of his far post marker and calmly squared the ball back across goal for brother Brad to swoop for an easy tap in and his second of the game.

Several roll on and roll off substitutions didn't not hinder the momentum of Levens and as Brad Martin attacked their left back from the right he was chopped and bundled over a clear penalty. This was clinically converted by O'Connor. 3-1 in control.

More goals could have been added but that didn't happen. Some late attacking and a late rally by Hallen hitting the underside of the Levens bar troubled Levens a wee bit but the game closed at 3-1.

Much improvement individually and squad wise against a Hallen large squad which had hastily been brought together with only 3 players (including the goalkeeper) retained from last season's squad. Under the circumstances as a sporting contribution to quite an entertaining game in the end praise for the visitors Hallen who seem to enjoy their long pre-match warm ups greatly.

Man of the 90 minutes match was Craig "Spider" Martin with Adam Hughes having an effective game at the back.

MATCH NIGHT SQUAD:
Hall; Harris; Westcarr; Hughes;Beaton; May; Dunn; McDonald; Merrick; Vadstone; Byard; Montgomery; Rich; Craig Martin; Brad Martin;O'Connor;

Next up Cirencester Town TUESDAY 25TH AT HOME 7.30 P.M.