Longlevens AFC 2 v 3 Hereford Lads Club FC

With Tytherington calling off at a late stage the friendly planned, Longlevens were nearly caught between a rock and a lads night out but fortunately Hereford Lads Club FC kindly stepped in to fill the fixture at the Sawmills last night.

After a hot day at the work place Levens started at a high temperature pace and Ryan Dunn and Scott Montomery prompted by some balling winning and astute layoffs by Craig Martin were opening up the Lads defence particularly behind their left back and down the right wing..

However, it was Dave Merrick after only 3 minutes that powered his way from midfield chesting down and surging past two Hereford defenders and rounded the keeper to put Levens 1-0 up and cement a bright start. Hereford Lads were rattled and shaky which Levens tried to exploit further.

Levens were in right side attack looking likely to score another second or third goal and Merrick; Dunn and Montgomery all in turn broke down the right hand side. Inches from a decisive strike, Montgomery headed over when looking likely to score from a cross from Merrick who had got around the back yet again..

Hereford Lads were indeed big lads and it took twenty plus minutes to settle into some forward play when some square passing on the half way line then hopeful long punts were unproductive and not troubling the Levens back four. Some action around the Levens goal was expected and a striker volleyed poorly and wide; then Levens keeper Hall made a good double block and save.

A big powerful team all around Hereford were strong in the tackle but too much for right back Kavanagh who took a nasty tackle and his night out against the Lads came to an end. Ed Smyllie came in to replace but with the cool Ellis Sausman returning from injury and May looking more assured the back four were coping well.

Hereford did not create too much first half but a great save from keeper Hall thwarted their threat. Levens came again and Craig Martin just didn't quite meet a far poster....then with a free kick Sausman shot straight at the Lads keeper. Some goods things from the Levens boys in the first half in at 1-0.

Both sides made changes at half time and for the second half it was mixed outcomes with the Levens changes and more positive results
for the Lads as in a 20 minutes spell turned the game on its head with 3 cracking shots giving goals.

Firstly a rebound off a Levens defender and this set up beautiful curler into the top corner giving Hall no chance; quickly followed by a left corner of area where a left foot curler beat Hall all ends up; soon followed by Lads substitute getting in on the act and a planting a hard low shot all the way into the far Levens corner of the net. 1-3 down! what a turn around!
As well as quality finishing Hereford Lads had upped the tempo going forward and they were all working well off the ball for each other with more with more positive decision making. Their subs brought new energy onto the pitch and also reforming their defence meant their achilles left back slot was better covered by their centre half moving over who was now hitting some great left foot passes and crosses

Top scorer Brad Martin had come on half time and was having a good game and troubling the Lads defence so there was a fight back happening. Dunn who had done well at right wing and right back went on a charge slipped in Brad Martin who finished emphatically with his unfavoured right foot off the underside of the bar.a goal back 2-3 game on.

Generally Hereford were in control and always look capable of adding a goal. Final effort was McDonald's corner had Hereford in trouble and Smyllie was close to equalising. Final result 2-3 loss.

Longlevens had a good first half and with better finishing could have put the game to bed. Hereford a sizeable team and powerful changed tact second half and then gave the game some quality finishing so that was the main difference overall.

Longlevens Man of the match was Thomas May at centre back who came back from the Slimbridge game and gave an assured confident performance against some big strong experienced strikers Hereford had in depth. Brad Martin for the second half looked sharp and not far behind was Ryan Dunn giving a versatile positional muliti-tasking performance on the right side.

Early days.