Lacklustre Tuffley beaten by Bassett despite second half flurry
Goals from Karnell Chambers and Gino Valenti weren’t enough as Tuffley slipped to a 3-2 defeat at home to Royal Wootton Bassett Town at Glevum Park.
First half efforts from Ben Cleary and Henri Parry-Williams had the visitors two goals to the good at half time, in a game that struggled for any real quality.
Tuffley were sloppy in possession and showed a real lack of quality in the final third and conceded two terrible goals from a defensive point of view.
Then when Finlay Hopkins made it three for Bassett, it was no more than the hosts deserved for yet more poor defending.
Two goals in two minutes as substitutes Valenti and Preston Mason got stuck into the game, with Karnell Chambers’ effort and Valenti’s follow up threatening an unlikely comeback for Rovers – but it never quite materialised.
Tuffley stay in 11th place in the Hellenic Premier table, ahead of their re-arranged Floodlit Cup tie against Cribbs in midweek – whilst Bassett stay in 16th place in the table and have now moved 7 points clear of the relegation places.
After a goalless 25 minutes, Bassett took the lead as Robin Hoffland came out of his box to sweep clear, but the ball fell to the visitors, with the ball played to Ben Cleary, who side stepped on the edge of the box and fired into the bottom corner.
Rovers struggled for rhythm, with Karnell Chambers looking like the only one capable of causing the visitors problems for the most part and Callum McGuirk having to do way too much in the midfield.
Brad Bevan squandered Rovers’ best chance of the half, as he couldn’t quite get up to head a ball home – with his effort flying over.
Bassett doubled their lead moments later as Tuffley again got caught on the ball, with Edward Taylor doing well to pull back for Parry-Williams to fire home.
Neil Mustoe made two changes at half time, with Jamie Creed and Harley Mustoe replacing Jorrell Sanniola and Bevan.
But it was Bassett who struck next, as Taylor again got into space down the right and after his ball in was palmed down by Hoffland, Finlay Hopkins was on hand to convert from close range.
Valenti and Mason replaced Kieran Alder and Corey Warrington, who both struggled to get into the game, and the two played their part in Tuffley getting back into it.
First, neat play from Rovers resulted in Chambers firing home from 20 yards, before Mason’s driven effort was palmed out to Valenti to reduce arrears to one with twenty minutes to go.
Hopkins went closest to the next goal though, as the Bassett man broke into the box before firing against the foot of the post.
In the end it was a really disappointing afternoon for the hosts, who produced a performance similar to a couple of seasons ago where it felt like there was too much of a reliance on Chambers to get them out of trouble.
With a cup game to come in midweek, Neil Mustoe will be looking for a reaction, otherwise their season is in danger of fizzling out drastically.
For Bassett, they head to Hereford Pegasus next weekend, before a crucial home game against Lydney Town.
Tuffley Rovers: Hoffland, McLean, Clifford, Kelly, Simpson, McGuirk, Warrington, Alder, Chambers, Sanniola, Bevan
Subs: Valenti, Mason, Creed, Jones, Mustoe
Royal Wootton Bassett Town: Godfrey, Smith, McNally, Hayward, Coward, Messenger, Hopkins, Thorne, Cleary, Parri-Williams, Taylor
Subs: Alves, Love, Bell, Kieh, Reivers
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Karnell Chambers (Tuffley Rovers)
READ MORE: Check out the list of Saturday’s results in and around Gloucestershire right here
