Walters inspires Rovers as Tuffley maintain strong start to the season
Connor Walters put in a Man of the Match display as he netted his fourth goal of the season to help Tuffley Rovers deservedly beat Hereford Pegasus 3-0 on Tuesday night.
Tuffley went into the game off the back of an eye-catching 4-1 win over Corsham Town at the weekend full of confidence and produced a superb team display to make it 7 points from 12 so far this season.
Walters added to Preston Mason’s first half effort, before substitute Leighton Blacker added a third to add icing on the cake for Neil Mustoe’s side.
Luke Merchant only had two big saves to make in the game including a second half penalty from Carlos Moreira – with his defence in front of him pretty much impenetrable.
Rovers have a big run of games to conclude August, with trips to Bradford Town and Roman Glass St George before a Bank Holiday Monday showdown with local rivals Longlevens.
And even though it is early days into the Hellenic Premier season, Rovers find themselves in 4th place in the table – but more importantly have given themselves a platform to really push for a potential play-off push.
Walters set up the opener on 12 minutes, after battling into the left side of the box before his ball across was spilled by Stephen Sarkodie, allowing Preston Mason to tap home from close range.
Rovers saw Kieran Alder have to depart soon after, hopefully in a move that is more of a precaution.
On 30 minutes, the hosts were screaming for a Sarkodie red card, whilst Pegasus were appealing an offside – but the referee dismissed both appeals and play continued after Walters rounded Sarkodie about 25 yards out and the two collided.
It felt in real time that the decision was just about correct, with Walters just seeming to overrun it Sarkodie couldn’t get out of the way.
Iestyn Watkins blazed over for Pegasus after a corner kick fell to him in the Tuffley box, before another corner saw Moreira and then Sam Griffiths have a shot blocked – before Jamie Price had his rebound saved by Merchant.
Walters added the second nine minutes into the second half when he was picked out by a quick throw in, before smashing past Sarkodie at his near post.
Connor Austin-Davies headed wide from another Pegasus corner with twenty minutes left, before Walters flashed a volley across goal.
A huge moment in the game came moments later when the visitors were awarded a penalty for a trip in the box, but Moreira’s spotkick was saved well to his left by Merchant and from there the game was done.
Blacker replaced Walters and continued the hard work as the sole striker by chasing everything and Blacker got reward for his work when he held off a Pegasus defender and with a moment of hesitation between the defence and Sarkodie, Blacker hooked the ball past the keeper.
Tuffley were great value for their win, with a number of impressive performances including from Walters and centre back Ryan Williams – who has started life at Tuffley with two wins from two and they are benefitting massively from having Merchant back in goal after he missed most of last season injured.
Rovers head to Bradford and GFA HQ in the next two weekends full of confidence.
Tuffley Rovers; Merchant, Lewis, H Mustoe, McLean, Williams, McGuirk, Warrington, Alder, Walters, Mason, Eakers
Subs: N Mustoe, Jones, Ben Ali, Blacker, Pirelli
Hereford Pegasus: Sarkodie, James, White, Wilkinson, Austin-Davies, Price, Watkins, Hainault, Griffiths, Hundt, Moreira
Subs: Summers, Owen, Sherchan, Dominguez, Morgan
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Connor Walters (Tuffley Rovers)
READ MORE: Check out the list of fixtures in and around Gloucestershire this Saturday right here
