Chambers scores four as Tuffley beat Lydney in Glevum Park goal fest
Karnell Chambers moved onto 17 goals this season by netting four in Tuffley Rovers’ 7-3 win over Lydney Town on Tuesday night.
The relegation battling visitors went ahead twice in a first half that finished 3-2, before Tuffley put in a ruthless second half display, racing to a 5-2 lead just after the hour mark.
Archie Myatt, who was the most impressive in a Lydney shirt on the night, pulled one back for the visitors with ten minutes to go – but Chambers’ fourth and an injury time own goal saw the margin of victory increase.
The result sees Tuffley leapfrog above Slimbridge and Corsham Town into 9th in the Hellenic Premier table, although Neil Mustoe’s side have played two more than the chasing pack.
For Lydney, the search for a first win continues for new Managers Lee Smith & Adam Dix, who would have seen some positives on a tough night.
And it all could have been so much different, following Declan Morley-Lyne’s effort to put Lydney into a shock lead on 6 minutes.
Morley-Lyne was picked out at the back post from a corner, and battled hard to get the ball out of his feet to blast past Merchant.
Kieran Alder, who was particularly impressive, saw an effort saved by Tom Way, before Chambers cut in and fired over from 18 yards.
But Tuffley didn’t have to wait too long for their leveller, as Harley Mustoe beat the offside trap down the right, before squaring for Connor Walters to convert.
There was an expectation for Tuffley to kick on, but it was Lydney who struck next. Another corner came into the Tuffley box and it fell to Jordi Sheen, who volleyed into the top corner.
Two goals in the final seven minutes of the half for Chambers saw Tuffley turn it around before the break.
The forward first stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way from 12 yards, following a foul in the box, before Alder was left in oceans of room on the counter to then square for Chambers to grab his second.
The second half started with both sides pressing for the next goal, allowing for an open game, but without much goalmouth action in the early exchanges.
Two goals in five minutes all but killed the contest, as Tuffley eased into a 5-2 lead.
Mustoe and Corey Warrington were again part of a sweeping Rovers move, which resulted in Chambers being picked out in the box, before sealing his hattrick in clinical fashion.
Alder then got his name on the scoresheet, as he jinked his way into the box and stood up a ball to the back post and it flew in off the woodwork.
Ryan Dobbins thought he had Lydney back in the contest with quarter of an hour remaining, but his close range effort was disallowed for offside – much to his annoyance.
But Lydney weren’t to be denied a third, as Myatt tapped home from Lewis Pinchard’s ball across the six yard box.
Chambers scored his fourth with four minutes left on the clock, beating the on-rushing Way to a long ball and firing into an empty net from about 20 yards.
And the scoring was rounded off with an unfortunate own goal, with a cross from the left diverted home by a Lydney shirt.
Next up for Rovers is a tough trip to Royal Wootton Bassett Town on Saturday, whilst Lydney’s home game with Thornbury Town will be a doubt due to the flooding caused by Storm Bert last weekend – although we are told that the pitch is draining well.
Tuffley Rovers: Merchant, Changa, Clifford, Pritchett, Herbert, Turner, Warrington, Alder, Chambers, H Mustoe, Walters
Subs: Zatorski, Stevens, Roberts, N Mustoe
Lydney Town: Way, Brain, Guest, Skidmore, Murphy, Myatt, Sheen, Gibbs, Dobbins, James, Morley-Lyne
Subs: Pinchard, Wines, Warren, Aldridge, Jenkins
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Karnell Chambers (Tuffley Rovers)
READ MORE: Check out the list of fixtures in and around Gloucestershire this Saturday right here
