Page 14 - Tuffley Rovers FCX9

Overview

MATCH SUMMARY: 14-23 APRIL 2018
UHLSPORT HELLENIC LEAGUE, PREMIER DIVISION FIXTURES

TUFFLEY ROVERS 2-1 BRACKNELL TOWN, 14 April 2018
A terrifically brave performance, against promotion chasing Bracknell Town, ended I a
narrow defeat for Rovers, but with the team’s pride very much intact.
Three goals in the opening 20 minutes settled the game in Bracknell Town’s favour but
after Brett James had reduced the arrears, following early goals from Seb Bowerman (a
penalty) and Joe Gator, Mark Pritchett’s side produced a resolute, determined showing
that arguably deserved better than the defeat which followed.
Bracknell’s prolific front-line of Bohane and Cornell did waste chances to extend the
margin of victory, but Rovers did apply plenty of pressure, with Pritchett drawing a save
from Chris Grace late-on, on a day when the result could have been very different.
HIGHMOOR IBIS 1-1 TUFFLEY ROVERS, 16 April 2018
Shayne Bradley’s late goal, saw Rovers overcome the industry of their hosts, Highmoor
Ibis, at Scours Lane, to secure a further Hellenic League point.
The game started well for the visiting team, with Brett James’ cross almost finding Harry
Walker, but it flashed across the face of goal, agonisingly close to the young forward’s
desperate attempt to meet the ball with his head.
Kane Winman, deputising in goal for Dave Evans, was subject to some robust physical
challenges in the early stages, as the giant Anthony White used his strength to good
effect, and Rovers also found themselves struggling to contain the threat posed by Mitch
Parker, who used pace and trickery to create opportunities for his side in the early stages.
It was Parker who created the opening goal, after 19 minutes, when he produced an
excellent cross headed home, from six yards, by Michael Porter.
White was cautioned for an off the ball incident with Sam Hill, on the half hour, and then
saw red, when he caught the same Rovers player with a late tackle moments before the
interval.
Playing against ten men might have been the opportunity for Rovers to seize all three
points but with Shayne Bradley denied by a great save, they were unable to restore parity
in the early stages. In fact, they were grateful to a stunning one-handed stop from
Winman to keep the score at 1-0, when he denied Parker with twenty minutes to go.
Bradley had another effort beaten away by the hosts’ keeper, on 80 minutes, and it looked
as though time was running out for Pritchett’s men, before Liam Wright produced a superb
run and well delivered cross that the veteran front-man headed home from close range.
There was little time to go again, although James and substitute Pritchett both had
half-chances before the referee’s whistle arrived, with the score at 1-1.
THATCHAM TOWN 4-1 TUFFLEY ROVERS, 18 April 2018
For the second successive Saturday, Tuffley Rovers pressed one of the title challengers
all the way, but gained no reward for their efforts, eventually succumbing to an
undeserved 4-1 defeat.