Fairford weather the storm to hold Tuffley to a draw
Fairford Town saw off a barrage of second half pressure to hold Tuffley Rovers to a 1-1 draw at Glevum Park, on Saturday.
With most games in the Hellenic Premier called off due to Storm Darragh, the two sides faced off in difficult conditions.
After a goalless first half, Jamal Lawrence put the visitors ahead from the spot just after the restart, with Karnell Chambers tapping home from close range to restore parity.
In a second half that saw Tuffley create more chances to win the game, they found Fairford keeper Harrison Ellis in inspired form and the points were shared.
The result leaves Fairford six points outside the play-off spots, but with one game in hand over Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Sporting Club Inkberrow ahead of them.
The game itself saw both sides take a while to settle into proceedings, with the wind hurling around the ground and life being made difficult for both sets of players.
Fairford had two long distance efforts of contrasting quality, with Charlie McCrea firing well wide and Danny Way sending his effort whistling past the post.
The referee signalled a corner which indicated Luke Merchant must have got finger tips to it, if so, great save.
Kieran Alder cleared a header off the line, as Fairford shaded the opening half an hour or so.
Then just before the break, Merchant produced a stunning a save to throw a glove up and palm away a Jamal Lawrence header that looked set to nestle in the back of the net.
It didn’t take too long for Fairford to take the lead after the restart, with Lawrence brought down in the box within the first three minutes of the half and the forward stepped up to blast down the middle.
From there though, Tuffley were in the ascendancy for most of the second half.
Rovers levelled ten minutes into the second half, as a corner fell to Brad Bevan and his effort was brilliantly saved by Harrison Ellis – but unfortunately for the Fairford keeper, it fell for Karnell Chambers to poke home.
Ellis made another great stop just before the hour mark, tipping a rocket of an effort from Chambers over the bar.
The Tuffley forward had cut in from the left before letting fly and with the shot destined to sail home, Ellis diverted the strike over.
Ellis did well to save two further efforts from Chambers, as Rovers began to knock on the door in the final 15 minutes.
The two were involved with the final big chance of the game in the final minute of normal time, but once again Ellis did well to tip over a Chambers effort from the edge of the box.
Tuffley will come away from the game knowing they had the best chances to win the game in the second half , however Fairford would have been ahead at the break on another day.
Next up for Tuffley is a trip to Malmesbury Victoria, whilst Fairford host local rival Lydney Town, with both games taking place next weekend.
Tuffley Rovers: Merchant, H Mustoe, Clifford, Simpson, Herbert, Turner, Warrington, Alder, Chambers, Bevan, Roberts
Subs: Barnes, Zatorski, Valenti, McGuirk, N Mustoe
Fairford Town: Ellis, Lewis, Haswell, Way, Holliday, Hitchman, Shutt, Hall, Lawrence, McCrea, Lodge
Subs: Edwards, McGrogan, Bradbury, Bamana, Blyth
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Dean Turner (Tuffley Rovers)
