Chambers at the double to seal Brimscombe relegation and leave Tuffley on brink of record
Karnell Chambers scored twice as Tuffley Rovers ran out 3-0 winners over Brimscombe & Thrupp to seal the Lilywhites’ relegation and seeing Rovers move to a point of history.
Chambers scored either side of an Oli Barnes effort to see Neil Mustoe’s side level their highest points return in the Hellenic Premier, since their return to the league in 2014/15.
The result secures the fate of Brimscombe who, barring any late reprieves, will be playing in Hellenic League Division One next season.
They had their chances on the day, including a Chalmers Phin penalty, but as that sailed wide it summed up a tough afternoon – with Luke Merchant only forced into one save of note in the Tuffley goal.
For Rovers, they move onto 50 points and will only need to avoid defeat in their final league game against Corsham Town to set a record for most points in the modern era.
The game itself saw Brimscombe come out of the traps quickly, pressing their hosts and making life tough for Mustoe’s men.
Harrison Archer curled wide on 4 minutes, before Joe Stokes’ free kick saw Tuffley just about scramble it clear.
Vlad Yarmolenko skipped past Ellis Clifford before his effort was tipped round the post by Merchant.
And within seconds Tuffley nearly went ahead.
Brad Bevan cut the ball back from the right hand byline, but Dean Turner’s effort squirmed through Elliot Jones, before being cleared off the line.
Moments later, Chambers was played in by Kieran Alder, rounded Jones and tapped home for 1-0.
One soon became two as Chambers’ effort was saved by Jones, only for former Brimscombe striker Oli Barnes to charge in and fire home his side’s second.
Just after the half hour mark, Brimscombe were awarded a penalty for a handball against Harley Mustoe.
But Chalmers Phin stepped up to fire wide and all but end the Lilywhites’ hopes of survival.
With Longlevens leading at Cirencester and Lydney Town coming back to draw with Royal Wootton Bassett Town, the writing was on the wall before Chambers beat the offside trap again in the 89th minute – with the striker rounding Jones and firing home once more.
Brimscombe will look to end a disastrous season on a high on Wednesday night when they head to Longlevens, whilst Tuffley have to wait until 1st April for the visit of Corsham – both Rovers’ and Brimscombe’s final games of the season.
Tuffley Rovers: Merchant, Mustoe, Clifford, Simpson, Herbert, Turner, Warrington, Alder, Chambers, Barnes, Bevan
Subs: McGuirk, Walters, Smith, Creed, Lander
Brimscombe & Thrupp: E Jones, Clinton, Lee, Hall, N Marks, Kerr, Yarmolenko, Stokes, Phin, Blackford, Archer
Subs: K Marks, Z Jones, Waters
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Karnell Chambers (Tuffley Rovers)
READ MORE: Check out the list of results in and around Gloucestershire from Saturday right here
