Hellenic Premier
Longlevens 1
Fairford Town 1

FAIRFORD Town returned to Hellenic Premier Division duty by taking a point from a Wednesday night encounter at Longlevens, writes Chris Tanner.

After defeat in the Buildbase FA Vase on Friday evening, Fairford went into the encounter looking to make amends and a committed performance brought a deserved share of the spoils.

The visitors made a quick-fire start to the game and went ahead with just five minutes on the clock. Some neat interplay in the box between Josh Morse and Lee Smith saw the latter tuck the ball away from eight yards.

Fairford had a golden chance to double the advantage when a superb cross from Morse was headed goalwards only for home stopper Ash Wintle to pull off an excellent save. Three minutes later Wintle was at it again to deny the visitors what would have been a third of the night.

Goalkeeper Josh Langley, included in the starting line-up for only his second start of the season, went down injured but after treatment was able to continue.

Jody Bevan’s men went in a goal up at the break after what had been a committed first half display, but were pegged back soon after the restart.

Six minutes into the second half a long throw was not cleared with Myron Turner on hand to slam home the loose ball.

Fairford had a chance to get ahead once again when former Gloucester City and Cirencester Town defender Lyndon Tomkins saw his header fly narrowly over the crossbar.

A mesmerising run by Dave Merrick saw the midfielder’s 81st minute effort cannon off the foot of the post before substitute Martin Hall brought another save out of Wintle at the other end.

Despite late chances for both sides, what had been an entertaining fourth meeting of the season between the teams saw the visitors take a point to lift themselves off the foot of the table.

Fairford Town: Langley; Dainton, Barstow, Tomkins, S Hall (M Hall); Gale, Reid (Boucher), Reynolds, Morse (Oakes); Smith, Petrie Substitutes not used: Hemmings, Bevan.