Alder inspires Tuffley to eye-catching win over Slimbridge
Kieran Alder’s Man of the Match display inspired Tuffley Rovers to an impressive 3-0 win over Slimbridge, in front of a bumper crowd on Tuesday night.
Karnell Chambers’ double and a Brad Bevan header saw an industrious Rovers performance rewarded with all three points in a result that will catch the eye.
A key sixty seconds saw Tuffley go ahead, in front of over 200 in attendance at Glevum Park, with 10 minutes on the clock.
Slimbridge thought they had the lead when Shiyak Sutherland rifled into the bottom corner from 25 yards, however the flag was up on the far side – much to the bemusement of the Swans winger and those watching on from his side of the pitch.
But Tuffley went down the other end and after shaking off the defenders, Chambers fired across Olly Phillips – leaving him no chance.
Alder went close to a second on 14 minutes, but his beautiful curling effort came back off the crossbar, with Slimbridge looking rattled.
A uncharacteristically poor first half on the ball saw Slimbridge concede possession in their own half a number of times, but Tuffley weren’t able to make the most of it for the most part.
Sutherland looked the most likely for Slimbridge, in particularly in the first half, but his effort on 20 minutes was held well by Luke Merchant.
Will Hawes curled a free kick wide just after the half an hour mark, before Tuffley doubled their lead with a well worked moved.
Warren Mann’s quick throw in was taken into his stride by Alder, who in turn helped the ball to the back post and Brad Bevan rose higher than Myron Turner to nod home.
Tuffley were two goals to the good at the break, despite all of Slimbridge’s possession.
Slimbridge were forced into changes either side of the break. Myron Turner went off injured just before the break, with Jacob Rodgers slotting in at left back – and Craig Mills, who was booked and looking leggy, was replaced by Ben Hands in the middle of the park.
Hawes would have thought he was about to reduce arrears in the early stages of the half, but after creating space just inside the box, his effort was blocked by a heroic lunge from Eli Simpson.
Slimbridge would have known it wasn’t there night on the hour mark, as Jack Smith’s effort was palmed out by Merchant, only for Theo Clayson to strike the foot of the post with the goal at his mercy.
Hawes had another effort well saved by Merchant, who was leading his team well from the back.
And with the clock ticking towards the final minute, Chambers sealed the deal with a smartly taken individual effort.
Chambers found himself one on one with Charlie Hitchings and the forward squared the defender up, jinxed past him and slotted in off the far post.
Both sides are back in all-Gloucestershire action on Saturday, with Tuffley heading to Lydney Town and Slimbridge welcoming Hartpury University to Thornhill Park.
Tuffley Rovers: Merchant, Mann, Simpson, Pritchett, Herbert, Turner, McGuirk, Alder, Chambers, Bevan, Mustoe
Subs: Hicks, Clifford, Lee, Walters, Smith
Slimbridge: Phillips, Hunt, Turner, Mills, Dennis, Hitchings, Clayson, Soule, Hawes, Smith, Sutherland
Subs: Rodgers, Hands, Evans, Dark, Myatt
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Kieran Alder (Tuffley Rovers)
