U18s hope to continue exceptional week

Tuffley Rovers U18s will be looking to pick-up where they left off, when they return to action on Thursday evening, in a Cheltenham Floodlit Youth League game against Chipping Sodbury Town.

The week started with a historic win, 4-2 away at Torquay United, as Michael Palmer’s squad booked a place in the First Round Proper of the FA Youth Cup for the first time in the club’s history. A well taken brace by Alex Roder, a fantastic free-kick from Ayomide Ajibola and a wonderful Rudi McKinnon goal, in a magnificent team performance that saw Rovers’ side knock-out their counterparts from a National League club, having already seen off Bitton, Bath City and Radstock Town in the previous rounds.

Rovers’ goalkeeper Louis Evans was fairly busy in the opening moments but once Roder had scored after 8 minutes, then added his second shortly after, before Ajibola’s free-kick on 23 minutes made it 3-0. A goal early in the second period brought the hosts back into the tie, but McKinnon scored from just inside the Torquay United half to make it 4-1. A few tense moments came when the arrears were reduced to 4-2 on71 minutes, but the young Rovers held out and recorded a famous victory, setting up a tie with Cheltenham Town in the next round.

We have a review of the tie, written by former Chairman Roy ‘Coke’ Craddock, at the end of this notice.

There is now a return to League business and Rovers will welcome Chipping Sobury to Glevum Park for a 7:30pm KO on Thursday evening. The game will be free admission and we’d urge spectators to come along and give the lads your support once again.

A terrific trip to Torquay…

Roy Craddock’s review:

On Monday night I travelled with the Tuffley Rovers FC U18’s to watch them play Torquay United FC U18’s in the FA Youth cup 3rd qualifying round.

Having beaten Bath City FC 4-1 at home in the 1st round, then Radstock Town in the 2nd round, it was a stiff task on a Monday evening in Devon.

In over 50 years involved in football at local level I can’t remember a performance of this magnitude and sheer dominance. From the KO we played football at an outstanding pace, with movement and passing at speed and accuracy.

We scored 3 great goals before HT from Alex (2) and a superb curling free kick from the edge of the penalty box by our No 10 ‘Yomi’.

The 2nd half started with Torquay Utd changing formation and tactics to put us under pressure, allowing their tall centre-forward to pull a goal back after 55 mins.

25mins in to the half Rudi  scored a “Beckham” from just inside the opposition half; with the keeper off his line he chipped the ball over him. Dominance restored.

With a late goal to Torquay the game ended 4-2 to the “Rovers” and in to the next round.

Mike Palmer, Kenny, and all the coaches can feel real pride in this team. Let’s hope we can continue a bit longer in the competition.