Page 15 - Tuffley Rovers FCX9

Thatcham Town had come into the game with promotion secured, but with their sights
very much on the Premier Division title, and started the game full of the sort of attacking
intent that had seen them score 195 goals in their previous 59 fixtures during the 2017/18
season.
Ekow Elliott was immediately to the fore, causing emergency left-back Brett James a
number of problems, and after the Rovers man was cautioned for a foul, the Thatcham
man delivered a delightful free-kick which Shane Cooper-Clark headed home after just
two minutes.
Before the ten minute mark, Ash Bird scored his second of the season, winning an aerial
challenge with the hosts keeper Rackley, before poking the loose ball home, with the
referee waving away appeals for a free-kick.
After Joel White had conceded a penalty, Cooper-Clark needed two attempts to score,
with Dave Evans making an excellent stop from the initial spot-kick, only to see the ball
cannon back into the Thatcham man’s path, an opportunity he wouldn’t waste.
2-1 was how it stayed for some time, until deep into the second-half, with Pritchett’s men
giving a great account of themselves, led by their Player/Manager’s performance in a
centre-forward role, but they were vetnually undone when they conceded a second
spot-kick with eight minutes remaining. James’ foul on Junior Brown saw him dismissed,
following a second caution, and Cooper-Clark presented with a chance to complete his
hat-trick, which he didn’t waste.
When Ross Cook’s shot was heavily deflected past Evans, moments later, the scoreline
took on a rather harsh perspective, as Rovers’ efforts went unrewarded and Thatcham
moved one step closer to the league title.
BRACKLEY TOWN SAINTS 4-0 TUFFLEY ROVERS, 23 April 2018
A hectic schedule finally appeared to catch-up with Tuffley Rovers, as they crashed to a
heavy defeat at Brackley Town Saints on Monday evening.
Without a regular goalkeeper, with both Dave Evans and Kane Winman ruled out due to
work commitments, Rovers’ boss Mark Pritchett was forced to play in goal, but he was
largely untroubled in the first quarter of an hour, as his side more than matched their
hosts, with both Warren Mann and Brett James almost pouncing on half-chances. In
between, James Hammond went close for Brackley.
Rovers were made to rue their profligacy, as the hosts took the lead, 20 minutes in, with
Josh Bowden netting from close range, after Pritchett decent stop could only deflect Matt
Johnson’s effort into the striker’s path. Soon after, it was 2-0, as Levi Steele latched onto
a ball over the top of a static defence, to slot home, past the advancing Pritchett, and
the scored remained until the interval.
The second half started in a way that might have given Rovers hope of a comeback,
although they were constantly reminded of the threat from a young, vibrant Saints team.
Ultimately the threat went unheeded, as Rovers faded and Bowden struck twice more,
after 70 minutes and with five minutes remaining, to complete his hat-trick and leave
Rovers’ hopes of a top eight finish hanging very much in the balance.