Magnificent Merchant inspires Tuffley to fourth win in a row

Luke Merchant put in a Man of the Match display to help Tuffley Rovers secure their fourth league win in a row, beating Pershore Town 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Merchant made a string of key saves to cap off a wonderful defensive performance from his side, who moved up to 8th with the win.

Brad Bevan and Harlie Price exchanged close range headers to keep the sides level at the break, before Kieran Alder rounded Jude Franks to slot home the winner just after the restart.

Tuffley will be looking to take their league form into two key local fixtures over the next week, with trips to Fairford Town and Slimbridge ahead of them.

The game started at a frantic pace, with both sides having decent chances in the first six minutes. Harlie Price stung Merchant’s palms from 18 yards, before Karnell Chambers twisted and turned before firing wide from the edge of the box.

Merchant made the first of his great saves on 9 minutes, getting down low to palm away Aidan Clark’s near post header.

Tuffley went down the other end and Kieran Alder saw his strike deflected wide for a corner – before Chambers worked space inside the box but fired straight at Franks.

But the hosts didn’t have to wait too much longer for a deserved opener, as Connor Walters cut in from the left byline, before seeing his effort palmed up by Franks – only for Brad Bevan to nod home at the back post.

A number of dangerous Pershore set pieces nearly brought an equaliser, but a header was cleared off the line, before Kirk Layton flicked a free kick across goal and wide.

With ten minutes to go to half time, Merchant was caught out by a cross from the left and after the keeper clattered his crossbar trying to palm away, Price was on hand to make it 1-1.

Chambers and Clark exchanged off-target efforts as both sides tried to seize the initiative before half time.

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The second half wasn’t even five minutes old before Tuffley regained their lead. Kieran Alder broke through with the ball and after rounding Franks, he steadied himself and slotted into the net.

From there, Tuffley began to dig in deep. The back five of Merchant and his defence looked to stand firm and they looked to frustrate their opposition.

Clark held off Macaulay Herbert before firing wide, before Price then dragged an effort just past the post.

Price thought he had levelled once again, but saw his close range effort chalked off for offside.

Pershore controlled the ball for the majority of the half, but Tuffley began to suffocate the game and build up the pressure on the visitors.

On the hour mark, Tuffley had a glorious chance to make it 3-1 but Franks made a great save flying towards his back post to keep out Karnell Chambers’ sliding effort.

Merchant produced another great stop to keep out a deflected Clark effort that looked set to find the bottom corner, before holding an effort from substitute Peter Tonchev.

Then in the 73rd minute, Merchant made the save of the night! A free kick was cleared back out to the right hand side, and the returned ball was perfect for Sacha Everend, who would have thought his header was destined for the goal – only for Merchant to chuck a left hand out and palm it away as he was going to opposite direction. It was absolutely stunning.

That save, along with some resolute defending from Herbert, Mark Pritchett, Eli Simpson and Ellis Clifford was the catalyst for Rovers holding on for a fantastic three points.

It was a great team performance from Neil Mustoe’s men, but he will be particularly delighted with the efforts of his back five.

Merchant made his final save of the game in the 89th minute, once again keeping out a driven effort from Clark, low to his left.

Full time saw tensions flare, with both sides getting involved with needless tussling before Layton and Merchant called for their respective sides to separate.

Tuffley head to Fairford Town on Saturday, who themselves will be looking for a reaction following a midweek defeat at home to Highworth Town – their first league defeat of the season.

Tuffley Rovers: Merchant, Simpson, Clifford, Pritchett, Herbert, Turner, Alder, Walters, McGuirk, Chambers, Bevan

Subs: Smith, Hicks, Roberts, Warrington, Lee

Pershore Town: Franks, Beach, Cooke, Layton, Carsley, Everend, Fuller, Donnelly, Clark, Price, O’Sullivan

Subs: Eades, Webb, Tonchev, Baldwin, Hussain

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Luke Merchant (Tuffley Rovers)