Slimbridge hang to earn first home win since August in battling encounter with Tuffley

Slimbridge made it back-to-back wins in the Hellenic Premier, hanging on to defeat Tuffley Rovers 2-1 at Thornhill Park on Tuesday night, writes Sam Yapp.

The Swans struck first with a fantastically worked goal as Rhys Sarson and Jack Watts linked up well to play through Jack Smith who had the simple task of finding the far corner on 19 minutes.

A second goal felt like it was coming for the Swans, and it did on 36 minutes when Watts followed up a parried Sam Blackie effort to find the bottom corner from close range for his fourth goal in his first three games for the Swans.

Rovers got themselves back in the game on 54 minutes when Kieran Alder’s driven effort was deflected off teammate, Tyrel Roberts into the top corner after his initial effort was well saved by Olly Phillips.

The Swans extended their league unbeaten streak to four games, leapfrogging Rovers into eight and picked up their first home win since August.

Rovers suffered a second straight defeat whilst remaining winless in five visits to Thornhill Park and winless in their last three on the road.

The hosts could’ve been further ahead in the opening 45 minutes but for two fantastic clearances off the line, first from Ellis Clifford to deny Smith acrobatically before Tawana Changa blocked Watts’ driven effort, both either side of the opening goal.

Tuffley’s best chance of the first period came inside 10 minutes when Karnell Chambers clipped a dangerous ball across goal which found a stretching Kieran Alder, but he could only put his effort wide.

Just before the break Blackie rose highest at the back post to meet a Ben Hands’ corner, but his bullet header rebounded back off the post.

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Rovers came out with more fight in the second period with Alder at the forefront striking the crossbar direct from a corner on 46 minutes before sending a free-kick agonisingly wide on 56 minutes.

Rovers’ goalkeeper, Luke Merchant was in inspired form during the second period making four important and outstanding stops to keep his side in the game.

On 58 minutes he matched a Watts driven effort from close range before getting out quickly to smother a Smith effort on 65 minutes.

Two minutes later Merchant produced a contender for save of the season as, fully stretched, he reacted well to somehow clawed a Jonty Welch volley onto the underside of the bar.

Shortly after he produced another fantastic save getting down with no time to react denying a Toby Soule effort which came through a crowd of bodies.

In the other net Swans ‘keeper, Phillips made sure the three points were staying at Thornhill when he rushed out to smother a Chambers one-on-one effort after he beat the offside trap on 80 minutes.

Slimbridge will look to make it three wins in a row when they host Royal Wootton Bassett at Thornhill Park on Saturday October 5^th, while Tuffley return to Glevum Park to face Malmesbury Victoria the same day.

Slimbridge- Phillips (GK), Hunt, Rodgers, M. Turner ©, Dennis, Hands, Welch (Harper 73’), Blackie, Watts, J. Smith, Sarson (Soule 69’)

Unused subs- Myatt, Mills, Dark

Tuffley Rovers- Merchant (GK) ©, Changa (Mustoe 69’), Clifford, Pritchett, Herbert (L. Smith 79’), D. Turner (Hicks 79’), McGuirk, Alder, Chambers, Bevan (Warrington 45’), Roberts (Walters 79’)

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Jack Watts (Slimbridge)