Tuffley Reserves maintain unbeaten start with five star display against Abbeymead
Tuffley Rovers Reserves maintained their unbeaten start to the season, beating Abbeymead Rovers 5-1 – moving top of the Stroud League Division One table in the process.
Both sides went into the game on Tuesday night boasting undefeated records from their opening five games, but after leading 2-0 at the break – including an absolute stunning opener from defender Dan Lander, Tuffley added three after half time to secure all three points.
Tuffley are now not in action until next Saturday, when they host Dursley Town Reserves, whilst Abbeymead will look to bounce back away at Chalford Reserves this weekend.
It was a slow start to the contest, with Xander Jones firing over in the opening five minutes for the visitors and Tuffley carving out a couple of half chances in the early going.
Montell Smith went through on the left side of the box, but screwed his effort into the side netting with Abbeymead’s best chance of the half.
Carter Matthews fired wide for Tuffley after being picked out with a diagonal ball as the game started to open up.
And on 31 minutes, Dan Lander ventured forward with the ball and unleashing an unstoppable effort into the top corner from the best part of 30 yards.
The stunning effort settled the hosts down and gave them something to hold onto.
Kieran Smith scuffed an effort over for Abbeymead moments later though, as the visitors went searching for a leveller before the break.
But it was Tuffley who would double their lead before half time, with Reshay Nembhard beating Ben Perrins to a ball into the box and tucking his effort under the keeper.
The warning sides had been there, with Tuffley trying to play the ball down the channel for Nembhard, with the forward taking his chance when it came.
After the break, Abbeymead went close to reducing the deficit within three minutes when Ethan Powell headed against the upright from a corner and just before the hour mark, Tuffley all but killed the contest.
A neat move saw Rovers get in down the right hand side and the pull back fell for Kaelen Venna, who slotted past Perrins to make it 3-0.
Five minutes later, it was four, as substitute Harley Devlin worked space down the right side of the box and smashed his effort past Perrins at his near post.
With the game over, Tuffley added a fifth to really rub salt in the Abbeymead wounds, as Yesh Lomotey’s blocked effort fell kindly for Nathan Hopkins to follow up by firing into the bottom corner.
The visitors did grab themselves a goal though, with Tim Ranken firing into the bottom corner after the ball pinballed around the Tuffley box.
Abbeymead would naturally be disappointed with the result but the game didn’t feel like they were four goals worse than Tuffley on the night, all credit has to go to the hosts for taking their chances and really making life difficult for the Abbeymead defence.
For Tuffley, they now move onto a +13 goal difference, having only conceded five goals so far this season – the joint lowest in Division One and based on Tuesday’s showing, could go on to have a really good season.
Tuffley Rovers Reserves: Hoffland, Walters, Stoite, Lander, Hughes, Rinaldi, Hopkins, Jordan, Nembhard, Matthews, Venna
Subs: Walker, Robbie, Devlin, Collier, Lomotey
Abbeymead Rovers: Perrins, Watts, Lewis, Davies, A Ranken, Lovegrove, K Smith, T Ranken, Lee, Jones, M Smith
Subs: Weightman, Mabbett, Potter, Powell, Garfield
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Reshay Nembhard (Tuffley Rovers Reserves)
READ MORE: Check out the list of Saturday’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
READ MORE: Check out the list of Sunday’s Women’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
