Tuffley Rovers Reserves beat Champions Old Richians to boost promotion chances
Tuffley Rovers Reserves edged past Champions Old Richians on Tuesday night, winning 3-2 to secure a second place finish in Stroud League Division One.
An own goal and a volley from Brett James had the visitors ahead at the break, before Warren Mann’s solo effort gave them a two goal lead going into the final period of the game.
Jake Lowe set up a nervy finish, but Rovers held on to take the points needed to finish runners up behind Old Richians – who secured the league title last week.
The result could prove to be crucial, as it is believed that as many as SIX teams could receive promotion from the Stroud League, Cheltenham League and North Gloucestershire League into the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League for the 2026/27 season – with the highest finishing teams who had applied for promotion and meet ground grading criteria eligible.
Following the game, Jeff Willerton and Gary Chapman from the Stroud League presented both sides with trophies for their respective finishes in the division.
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The game started at an open and fast pace. Ross Peters had a volley saved by Robin Hoffland on 6 minutes, with Hoffland’s long ball down field nearly seeing a defensive mix up, but Nathan Hopkins couldn’t keep the ball in after Nick Sheppard had been done by a back pass.
The breakthrough came just before the half hour mark as a short corner routine saw Brett James work his way into the box, with the ball ricocheting around the six yard box before ending up in the back of the net.
Tuffley were ahead for just over five minutes before Will Matthews’ effort from the edge of the box just about snuck in off the post – leaving Hoffland stranded.
But Tuffley shaded the first half and just about deserved to go into half time ahead and they did so after referee Callum Telford played a superb advantage after Warren Mann was fouled going up for a header.
The ball fell through to James, who struck a sweet half volley across goal and into the bottom corner to restore his side’s advantage heading into the break.
Old Richians came out for the second half much improved and within 10 minutes were given a chance to level again after a trip in the box.
Hoffland would have been slightly disappointed to have not kept Matthews’ equaliser out, but he more than made up for it saving Sam Sysum’s penalty.
Within seconds, it should have been 3-1 as Hopkins broke into the Richians box, cutting in from the right but taking a second too long to shoot, resulting in him only being able to slide his effort wide.
From there, Warren Mann began to get up to his usual tricks – making life uncomfortable for the defenders, taking time over set pieces and just being a natural wind up, in reality he was lucky to have only received one yellow card all night.
But it came as no surprise to see Mann get the decisive third goal. Mann beat the offside trap and after finding himself in a similar position to Hopkins earlier, Mann found the top corner with a left footed strike.
Matthews came close to a second with just under 10 minutes left on the clock, but Hoffland saved well from his header.
But the Champions did set up a nervy finish when Jake Lowe was on hand to side foot home from about five yards after a neat cut back.
Tuffley held on though to secure second place and also lay down a marker ahead of the two sides meeting again on Bank Holiday Monday in the Presidents Cup final at Longlevens’ Saw Mills (kick off; 18:00)
Old Richians: Sheppard, Gorrick, Dunn, Gibson, Morris, A Lowe, Matthews, Smith, Symonds, Peters, Sysum
Subs: Barry, Millard, J Lowe, Oldroyd, Harris
Tuffley Rovers Reserves: Hoffland, Jones, Hamblin, Smith, Lander, Hughes, Jordan, Rinaldi, Squires, James, Hopkins
Subs: Mann, Blair, Matthews, Akuno, Robbie
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Warren Mann (Tuffley Rovers Reserves)
READ MORE: Submit your nominations in the Severn Sport End of Season Awards 2026 by clicking here
READ MORE: Check out the list of fixtures in and around Gloucestershire this Saturday right here
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