A Sunday Summary, with the emphasis on Sunday!

Sometimes you just need the week to end well and it puts very positive gloss on things…although an excellent Sunday for Tuffley Rovers was not the only highlight of a week that was only slight derailed by a fairly forgettable Saturday afternoon!

The week started with a bang, as Rovers’ U18s ran riot against a Cheltenham Town Development Squad, who shipped ten goals, as Michael Palmer’s squad hit double-figures without reply, with braces for Rudi McKinnon, Joshua Bird, Finley Kent and James Sunley, accompanied by goals for Ayomide Ajibola and Mackenzie Wilson.

With the first team game postponed on Tuesday evening, as Longlevens awaited the outcome of some Covid-19 tests, the next game was to prove the highlight of the week, as McKinnon was amongst the goals again, netting a hat-trick in a sensational 4-1 FA Youth Cup win over Bath City’s Academy side, in front of a crowd of 147 at Glevum Park. An unfortunate OG, from James Sunley’s drilled corner, completed the scoring and sets up a tie against Bridgwater Town in the next round.

Then Saturday came and there were some poor results to review, with the Fourths beaten 5-0 at Chalford 3rds and the Fifths going down 4-3  in a thrilling game against Saintbridge. Will Cronshaw’s side had taken trailed 3-1 but pulled it back to 3-3, with goals from debutants Kye Brice and Corey Jones, alongside a goal from Henry Jordan, but an unsavoury incident which saw a mass confrontation before the dismissal of a Saintbridge player, put the afternoon off course and then, with a draw looking the most likely outcome, the hosts managed to force home a headed effort which Rovers’ keeper Dave Griffiths will probably think he might have kept out that secured them the win.

With the first team going down to a fifth consecutive defeat at Flackwell Heath – Henry Birkett’s 83rd minute goal proving a rare highlight in the season, to date – it was left the the Development Squad to restore a little pride and they looked to be heading for a win over Newent Town Reserves, as they led 4-1 courtesy of a brace from Nathan Kay, a first of the season for Niall Priday and a rare goal for Jayson Watkins, but a late fightback saw Newent rally to make it 4-4 and share the points.

Sunday provided a much better set of results, with Griffiths atoning for his error on Saturday by starring in two wins for the Veterans’ teams. First he made some terrific saves, despite conceding four, to help Gary Wordley’s team to a 5-4 win over Abbeymead Rover. Dave Cornock hit a hat-trick, to pick up where he left off last season, whilst Ade Viner and Matt Mallett were also on the scoresheet. Then, Griffiths raced over to Winchcombe to play the second half for Mark Patterson’s side, who beat Quedgeley Wanderers 2-1 in their opening league game; Rovers legend Shayne Bradley scoring the winner in the final ten minutes, after Steve Badham had cancelled out debutant Daryl Cook’s opener for Rovers.

In the final game of the weekend, the Ladies’ team made it two wins from two, as they triumphed 5-2 against Winchcombe Town Ladies, with Holly Kay scoring twice, alongside goals for Jade Papps and sisters Chloe & Seana Taylor.

There is another busy week ahead, so until next time that concludes this week’s Sunday Summary.

Big game for U18s, as FA Youth Cup campaign looms

Tuffley Rovers U18s will play in one of their most prestigious games of the season as they welcome Bath City to Glevum Park on Thursday, 24 September 2020 (KO at 7:45pm).

A place in the Second Qualifying Round, at home to either Bridgwater Town or Radstock Town, awaits the winners of the tie and Rovers will be hoping to secure a famous win after overcoming Bitton AFC in the previous round.

Admission will be for up to 300 spectators (although we don’t anticipate that number!), on a first come, first served basis. All spectators are asked to familiarise themselves with our Covid guidance before attending Glevum Park and Test & Trace details will be collected. In line with FA guidance, the club has registered with the NHS Covid 19 App, so smartphone users can more swiftly sign-in and access the ground. Alternatively, we would ask those attending and not using the App to bring their details (name and contact number) on a slip of paper.

A online copy of the match-day programme can be downloaded from this website: Match-day programme v Bath City (FA Youth Cup). Printed copies can be made available upon request at the game (subject to availability).

We look forward to another great evening at Glevum Park. Please help us – and our volunteers – to make the environment as safe as possible. #uptherovers

 

Urgent notice: #ElGlosico postponed!

We regret to announce, that following advice from the opposition and a review by the Hellenic League, tonight’s scheduled game against local rivals Longlevens, dubbed El Glosico a few years ago, has been postponed following a Covid related matter affecting the visiting squad.

We have posted messages on all our social media pages to confirm this and look forward to confirmation of a revised date for the local derby game.

Next at Glevum Park will be the U18’s FA Youth Cup game with Bath City on Thursday, 24 September 2020 (7:45pm).

 

 

 

The Sunday Summary

It was a difficult week for Tuffley Rovers, but it ended on a high, as the Ladies’ team opened their Gloucestershire Women’s County League campaign with an emphatic 10-3 win at Southmead Community Sports on Sunday afternoon.

The first game of the week saw the First XI travel to play Brimscombe & Thrupp and a bad evening saw Rich Cox’s side slip to a 6-0 defeat, with the hosts scoring three times in each half without reply. Rovers’ day had started badly, with Luke Merchant ruled out and then a succession of goalkeepers unavailable, meaning outfield player Liam Wright ended up in goal.

After that difficult midweek game, it might be reasonable to assume our Hellenic League side would be looking forward to an FA Vase tie against lower division opposition, but another below par performance at Clanfield 85 FC saw the hosts record a 2-0 win that means Rovers have been dumped out of the FA Vase at the first hurdle for a second successive season.

We had another two games at Glevum Park over the weekend, with the Fourths and Fifths both hosting games, but both of those fixtures were to end in disappointment.

The Fourths conceded shortly before half-time against Stonehouse Town and as they started to chase for an equaliser, the visitors picked them off and eventually ran away with a 5-0 win, which was precisely the same scoreline in Gloster Rovers’ favour when the Fifths had entertained them in an earlier kick-off.

Thankfully, the third team did record a victory, with Alex Roder the star, as he recorded a hat-trick in his first senior performance, to take the man-of-the-match award for Dave Cornock and Luke Whittam’s side, who took all three points at Longford.

They say to save the best for last and that was the case for this week, as the Ladies’ result added some positivity amidst a difficult week! Goals from Ellie Windo, Holly Kay (2), Ellen Knight, Jess Dobbins (2), an OG, Robyn Lee, Danielle Prictor and Jayne Papps were just the fillip the club needed after a difficult few days and ahead of another important week of fixtures.

The Sunday Summary is back!

Our weekly review of the week’s action is back for the start of the 2020/21 playing season although it would be easy to hide it, given the results over the weekend!

The only midweek fixture was the highlight of the week, with the U18s recording a fantastic 6-3 FA Youth Cup win, away at Bitton AFC on Thursday evening. A high quality display of football from Mike Palmer’s side saw Rudi McKinnon net a hat-trick and James Sunley a brace, alongside a debut goal from Alex Roder, and although the sending-off of another debutant, goalkeeper Louis Evans, provided a disappointing end to the evening, there was nothing to take the shine off the evening’s entertainment.

Over the weekend there were games for all three Stroud League sides, with two of the games held at Glevum Park on Saturday afternoon, but defeats for the Thirds (4-1 against Upton St. Leonards Reserves), for whom Josh Webb scored the only goal, and Fourths (3-0 at Longlevens) followed and the only competitive point came for the Fifths, who drew 1-1 against Randwick Reserves. Another Josh (Pitt) had given Will Cronshaw’s side the lead, but Randwick found an equaliser to secure a point.

In the day’s Uhlsport Hellenic League fixture, the first team lost 1-0 at Virginia Water, with an 80th minute goal enough to beat Rich Cox’s side. A match report is available here.

This week will see the First XI making the short trip to face Brimscombe & Thrupp (7:45pm on Wednesday evening) ahead of scheduled games for all teams, save for the Development Squad, due at the weekend.

Here is hoping for better fortunes to report next Sunday….

Friday Night Football at Glevum Park….

…and a busy weekend ahead!

After the disappointment of exiting the Emirates FA Cup at the first hurdle on Tuesday evening, we have the joy of some Friday Night Football at Glevum Park, as the First XI host Hereford Pegasus in a pre-season game. Reduced admission prices will be in operation (£3 adults; £1 concessions; U16s free; Season Tickets valid) and gates will open from 6:15pm onwards.

On Saturday the ground will be open for the England match at 5pm, but prior to that our Fourth & Fifth teams will play a 12:30pm kick-off (free admission) to ensure that we don’t have another Saturday without some football at Glevum Park! The bar will be open throughout.

Then, on Sunday, our third team will be completing their charity walk, in aid of Heart Heroes, so we are opening up the Glevum Park bar from 12:30pm, to allow people to come along and cheer their return (approximately 3pm) whilst having a few drinks, as the forecast looks positive.

Fingers crossed for a great weekend. #uptherovers