Rovers produce superb second half to get back to winning ways
A textbook Jekyll & Hyde performance from Tuffley Rovers saw them run out 2-0 winners against a shell-shocked Hereford Pegasus side, getting back to winning ways after consecutive defeats.
Rovers went into the game after suffering a 3-1 defeat at home to Mangotsfield United last midweek and having been knocked out in the FA Cup at Flackwell Heath on Saturday and the opening 45 minutes suggested they were feeling the effects of back to back losses.
Their play was uncharacteristically slow, lethargic and disjointed – much to the audible dismay of Manager, Neil Mustoe.
But after making it to half time goalless, Rovers flipped the switch during the break and never looked like losing following the restart.
A Jamie Creed double on the night, his first competitive goals for the club, were enough to see Rovers make it three wins out of their first four league games, ahead of a crucial Bank Holiday Double Header with local rivals, Longlevens.
Creed netted his first inside the opening minute of the half, before a delightful passed finish to curl the ball past Pegasus keeper, Matt Gwynne, to seal the deal for his side.
Luke Merchant and his defence will be even more delighted, as Tuffley kept their first clean sheet of the season – giving the back line a much needed confidence boost going into a run of games where Rovers will believe they can add to their points tally.
Tuffley were nearly behind inside 4 minutes, when Pegasus Captain Jordan Williamson turned in the box before curling against the left upright.
Williamson played through to Harrison Summers on 16 minutes, but his effort was blocked by Man of the Match, Eli Simpson.
Summers volleyed over from 18 yards moments later, before striking the foot of the post on 21 minutes – as the visitors started banging on the door.
Creed had Rovers’ best chase of the opening quarter, but blasted into the side netting after the ball was poked through to him in the box.
Karnell Chambers was denied by Gwynne just after half an hour, as he skipped into the box and really pressed the Pegasus defenders for the first time.
Summers went close again before the break, with full back Sean Cooke getting forward on 45 minutes, but saw his effort well saved by the diving Merchant.
Creed nearly pinched a lead for the hosts before half time though, but he got up to direct his header just wide – after neat play from Chambers and Kieran Alder.
But 42 seconds into the second half and Creed struck the opener. After Alder’s 18 yard effort was blocked, the ball fell to the forward who took a touch to get the ball out of his feet, before slotting past Gwynne.
It felt inevitable, but Tuffley were back to their normal selves after the break. Corey Warrington and Chambers in particular were able to get on the ball and run at their opponents.
Creed should have added a second on 52 minutes, but after the ball fell to him in the box, he could only fire at Gwynne from about 8 yards – with the keeper able to smother the rebound before Chambers could arrive on the scene.
But he grabbed a very well taken second just after the hour mark, as another quick break saw Rovers fly forward.
After Ellis Clifford’s crunching tackle to win the ball on half way, Alder dribbled towards goal before sliding the ball left to Creed, who opened up his body to pass the ball around Gwynne and into the bottom corner.
From there Rovers did well to manage the game. Creed was replaced by Brad Bevan and with he, Chambers and Connor Walters a familiar front three, Rovers knew they had pace on the break and looked to contain and counter.
With just under ten minutes left, Chambers should have grabbed a third for his side, but after skipping past two men into the box, he cut inside before blazing over.
Bevan had the final chance of the game, but he somehow slid a cross from Chambers wide of the post, but the points were more than safe at that point.
Next up for Mustoe’s side is a mouth-watering FA Vase tie against Longlevens on Saturday, before they head to Saw Mills to play their city rivals in the league on Bank Holiday Monday.
Rovers’ next home league game is Saturday 30 August, when they host Thornbury Town in the Hellenic Premier.
Tuffley Rovers: Merchant, McLean, Clifford, Simpson, Herbert, McGuirk, Warrington, Alder, Chambers, Creed, Walters
Subs: Bevan, Pritchett, Venna, Jones, Smith
Hereford Pegasus: Gwynne, Cooke, James, Nowell, Panniers, Cresswell, Pitman, Rhodes, Summers, Williamson, Dallaway
Subs: Price, Rogers, Striunga, Johnson, Apperley
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Eli Simpson (Tuffley Rovers)
READ MORE: Check out the list of Saturday’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
