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.
