Month: January 2022

After a stunning comeback to earn a point against the league leaders, Bishops Cleeve, last weekend Tuffley Rovers will be looking to banish the memory of what is arguably their worst result tomorrow, when they welcome Hereford Lads Club to Glevum Park, just over three months after then manager Rich Cox oversaw a 9-1 defeat at the County Ground, Hereford.

With nine league games remaining, interim boss Neil Mustoe finds his side 18th in the twenty team Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division, with a six point gap between them and Calne Town, the team currently sitting in 19th (the highest relegation placing). However, the recent win at home against Shrivenham – Rovers’ first since October – and the home point against Cleeve have brought renewed hope of a move away from trouble. Four points out of twelve available at Glevum Park since Mustoe took on the role doesn’t round like it should offer much hope, but it is a pleasant contrast to zero points from the twenty-one points available up to the new manager taking the reins.

Lads Club arrive at Glevum Park after defeating Calne 6-2 at home last week and have won three games in a row, but they have lost their last two games away from the County Ground and with only five wins from thirteen games on the road this season, Mustoe might be hoping that his own team’s resurgence in form will carry his side to a result that might open up additional space between them and the sides in the relegation spaces, as the season draws towards a conclusion.

Sam Mendes is the only withdrawal from the squad that turned out against Bishops Cleeve seven days ago, as he has been nursing a groin injury, and Lewis Bainbridge replaces him, having missed the previous game.

As ever, Rovers have produced their match-day programme for the fixture, which is available online now. Printed copies will also be on sale at the turnstiles.

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Tuffley Rovers will host league leaders Bishops Cleeve on Saturday afternoon at Glevum Park, with the visiting squad likely to include a host of former Rovers, including ex-Manager Mark Pritchett and Brennan Denness-Barrett who joined Cleeve on Friday after his work experience arrangement at Rovers was cancelled.

The visiting squad is also likely to include Luke Merchant, Kieran Alder and Jake Rhodes, whilst Will Turner spent time with the squad during pre-season and visiting coach, Freddy Ward, made a handful of first team appearances during Doug Foxwell’s time as manager.

After another chastening defeat at Bradford Town last weekend, Rovers boss Neil Mustoe hopes to welcome back Ashley Davies and Joel White into the starting line-up and should have pushed through one further signing in good time for the 3pm kick-off. Davies is a former Cleeve player and Rovers could include two others, if Liam Wright is fit to return alongside Lucas Price.

Rovers are desperate for points and although performances have improved in Mustoe’s brief tenure as manager, they have just one win and sit only five points above the relegation places, with ten league games remaining. Cleeve arrive at Rovers’ home with a nine point lead at the top of the table (with eleven games to play) on the back of three consecutive wins and ten wins in their last eleven league games.

When the sides met earlier in the season Rovers became the only side to prevent Cleeve scoring this season, as the sides fought out a 0-0 draw at the Mitres’ temporary home, Evesham United.

As ever, Rovers’ official match-day programme is now available online and printed copies will also be available on the turnstiles.

Although he was in the dugout for the 27 December Hellenic League game against Longlevens, Neil Mustoe will officially take charge of his first game as Tuffley Rovers interim manager on Monday 3 January and the new, New Year regime will see his new charges presented with a stern test, as high-flying Brimscombe & Thrupp will visit Glevum Park.

Mustoe worked with caretaker boss Ritchie Warden for the Longlevens game but Warden will revert to his role as Assistant Manager for this game and stand alongside the new manager in the dugout.

With Warren Mann and Jack Beardsell suspended, Mustoe will be forced into changing his squad, despite the encouraging performance last time out, but there was some good news when Joel White was declared fit and able to return to the squad after missing all but two games since the end of October; a period that has coincided with Rovers’ dreadful run of form.

As ever, the official match-day programme is available online and printed copies will be available on the turnstiles.