Bluefin Supplementary Cup

Brimscombe & Thrupp 4-1 Longlevens

By Richard Joyce

Sam Blackie scored a first half hat-trick to help Brimscombe and Thrupp overcome Longlevens and claim a place in the Bluefin Supplementary Cup quarter-finals.

The attacker made it 22 goals for the campaign with a fantastic treble in an opening 45 minutes that saw Brimscombe cruise to a four goal lead at the break.

Edd Major also struck in the first half rout, with Brad Martin getting a goal back in the second half for the visitors who were put to the sword by a clinical Lilywhites display.

Longlevens will have felt they should have a penalty in the opening minutes when Dave Merrick was bundled over in the box, but with their appeals dismissed by the officials the game would quickly turn in Brimscombe’s favour.

Blackie got his first with the game approaching the midpoint of the opening half when he received the ball from a throw in and darted through the visitors defence to fire in.

Dave Rich’s powerful drive on goal a couple of minutes later in response was well saved by Lewis Skyers, with Brimscombe doubling their lead shortly after. Blackie struck with a fine hit from outside the area following Ben Deakin’s useful lay-off.

Firmly in the driving seat the Lilywhites drove forward and made it three when a fine sweeping team move saw the ball fall to Major at the back post and the former Slimbridge man powered in across the face of goal.

Longlevens were being reduced to just long range efforts in a frustrating first 45 minutes, but they still kept Skyers busy as Shaun O’Connor’s pop at goal tested the England Blind team goalkeeper.

Blackie grabbed Brimscombe’s fourth and his third a few minutes before half time. He was quick to react in the box and drove in past Ashley Wintle to settle a fine first half display.

Wintle denied Jack Smith twice early in the second period, while Jonty Welch’s effort when stretching was confidently tipped past the post by Skyers at the other end.

Martin would claim Longlevens’ consolation midway through the second half, converting a low cross when found in the six-yard box, but it was all Mark Moore’s men could muster, bar an O’Connor free kick from a wide position that struck the crossbar.

Substitute Karl Nash saw two attempts on goal towards the end well stopped by Wintle on a pleasing night for Sam Prior’s Brimscombe side who remain active in three cup competitions in their pursuit of silverware this season.

BRIMSCOMBE: Skyers, Hill, Vadasz, Greenhough, Pitts, Caldwell (Evans), Simpson, Blackie, Deakin (Pitt), Major, Smith (Nash)

 Subs not used: Gale, Pates

LONGLEVENS: Wintle, Smyllie, Sausman, Kavanagh, Phillips (Dunn), Welch (Kennedy), Rich (Long), Merrick, Turner, O’Connor, Martin