Drummer and Flags Taking the opportunity to get out to a Tuesday evening game, I was in two minds about where to go, eventually deciding on Tuffley Rovers. Having had the club on my list for some time, every previous plan to go had been curtailed by work, family, or weather. So when I got halfway into my journey only to be greeted by heavy rain and thick fog in the Cotswolds, I did begin to wonder if the Rovers curse was going to strike again. However, once I started heading into Gloucester things improved and I arrived at the ground in plenty of time.
After getting hold of a team sheet (thanks Neil Spiller), I took a walk around the ground and almost immediately bumped into a chap from Stourbridge (I was wearing a Stourbridge rain jacket), who told me that he he travelled down to Tuffley from the West Midlands two or three times a season because he liked the place so much. We, of course, discussed the once Mighty Glassboys and West Brom (also a former season ticket holder at The Hawthorns). Small world. It's always good to bump into like-minded non-league enthusiasts. I hope he had a safe journey back to the Black Country.
After getting hold of a team sheet (thanks Neil Spiller), I took a walk around the ground and almost immediately bumped into a chap from Stourbridge (I was wearing a Stourbridge rain jacket), who told me that he he travelled down to Tuffley from the West Midlands two or three times a season because he liked the place so much. We, of course, discussed the once Mighty Glassboys and West Brom (also a former season ticket holder at The Hawthorns). Small world. It's always good to bump into like-minded non-league enthusiasts. I hope he had a safe journey back to the Black Country.
Rovers attacking the car park end On to the game.
The home side took the game by the scruff of the neck right from kick-off. Cribbs were struggling to cope with the Tuffley midfield, led in no small way by former Tredworth Tiger Corey Warrington, a plyer that BotP last came across in the 2024 Gloucestershire Northern Senior League title decider (One From Three). Warrington scored that day but ended on the losing side as a late Luke Brunsdon goal won it for Chalford.
Despite Tuffley's early dominance and close calls inside the Cribbs penalty area, Cribbs proved that the possession stat is one of the most over-rated in football (IMO) when they took the lead with their first real attempt at goal. Eighteen minutes were on the clock when the visitors were awarded a corner on their left. Jo Davis flighted the ball into the centre of the box where player-manager Ryan Crouch rose highest to power a header past Luke Merchant. 0-1.
Undeterred, Tuffley continued to play the better football, creating a number of half-chances only to be foiled by a combination of solid defending, good goalkeeping and wasteful finishing. Their best chance to grab an equaliser came on the 35th minute when Warrington saw his effort blocked only for the ball to be recycled. It fell invitingly to Brad Bevan but he was denied by an excellent save from Olek Yakymchuck.
It was increasingly looking like one of those evenings for Rovers. Well on top and the better side but still trailing and they were almost caught out again just before the break. Luke Merchant having to react brilliantly to save from Jo Davis, who had worked space before striking a lovely effort toward to top corner.
HT Tuffley Rovers 0 Cribbs 1. A strange game in as much that Cribbs had spent the vast majority of it chasing the ball and defending and yet were ahead at the break. Tuffley could take heart in the fact that they had played some great football but hadn't quite managed to find the breakthrough. Surely, if they continued in the same way, they would find a goal in the second half?
The home side took the game by the scruff of the neck right from kick-off. Cribbs were struggling to cope with the Tuffley midfield, led in no small way by former Tredworth Tiger Corey Warrington, a plyer that BotP last came across in the 2024 Gloucestershire Northern Senior League title decider (One From Three). Warrington scored that day but ended on the losing side as a late Luke Brunsdon goal won it for Chalford.
Despite Tuffley's early dominance and close calls inside the Cribbs penalty area, Cribbs proved that the possession stat is one of the most over-rated in football (IMO) when they took the lead with their first real attempt at goal. Eighteen minutes were on the clock when the visitors were awarded a corner on their left. Jo Davis flighted the ball into the centre of the box where player-manager Ryan Crouch rose highest to power a header past Luke Merchant. 0-1.
Undeterred, Tuffley continued to play the better football, creating a number of half-chances only to be foiled by a combination of solid defending, good goalkeeping and wasteful finishing. Their best chance to grab an equaliser came on the 35th minute when Warrington saw his effort blocked only for the ball to be recycled. It fell invitingly to Brad Bevan but he was denied by an excellent save from Olek Yakymchuck.
It was increasingly looking like one of those evenings for Rovers. Well on top and the better side but still trailing and they were almost caught out again just before the break. Luke Merchant having to react brilliantly to save from Jo Davis, who had worked space before striking a lovely effort toward to top corner.
HT Tuffley Rovers 0 Cribbs 1. A strange game in as much that Cribbs had spent the vast majority of it chasing the ball and defending and yet were ahead at the break. Tuffley could take heart in the fact that they had played some great football but hadn't quite managed to find the breakthrough. Surely, if they continued in the same way, they would find a goal in the second half?
The free-kick that led to the equaliser Cribbs were back for the second half out well before their hosts but when the match restarted it quickly settled into a similar pattern. Rovers hogging the ball and pushing their visitors back. Yakymchuck was called into action again early on, saving well from Barnes before a small melee broke out after Warrington allowed his frustrations to boil over. A couple of yellow cards were issued but the incident soon calmed down.
Cribbs then had an appeal for a penalty after Davis tried to get on the end of Merchant's parry. It was at the opposite end of the ground, so unclear from my vantage point. No doubt the defender eased Davis off the ball, but a foul? Not so sure.
That was a just past the hour mark and, on 63 minutes, Tuffley finally made the breakthrough. A fee-kick on the edge of the box was pushed away by Yakymchuck only for Simpson to latch onto it and lift a teasing ball into the 6-yard box. Harley Mustoe emerged from a cluster of players to plant his header past the keeper. 1-1
Rovers had their tails up now. Having found the way through, they went in search of another goal, urged on by their lone drummer who stands alone in the far corner of the ground. They were straight back on the offensive from kick-off and came close. However, seven minutes after equalising, they did go in front. A looping cross from the right was contested by a group of players, the ball skipping off a defender's head toward the back post. There was Karnell Chambers to volley in off the opposite post. 2-1. Excellent technique to control the volley.
With their noses in front Tuffley set about holding on to the points, although they still managed to lose possession more in the closing stages than they had all game, much to the frustration of goalkeeper and captain Luke Merchant, who was growing increasingly frustrated with his troops towards the end.
Having said that, it was Tuffley who came closest to grabbing another goal when Mustoe drove across the edge of the Cribbs area before unleashing a shot that crashed against the Cribbs crossbar.
FT Tuffley Rovers 2 Cribbs 1. A well-deserved three points for Tuffley who dominated the game for the majority of the 90 minutes, despite going in a goal down at the break. Once they got the equaliser it felt like it was just a matter of time until the scored again.
Both teams are in FA Cup action on Saturday. Tuffley travel to Hartpury University in what looks like a very tricky tie against last season's Hellenic Premier winners.
Cribbs, meanwhile, welcome Banbury-based, United Counties side, Easington Sports to The Lawns.
Tuffley Rovers: 1.Merchant(c), 2.McLean, 3.Clifford, 4.Simpson, 5.Herbert, 6.McGuirk, 7.Warrington, 8.Mustoe, 9.Chambers, 10.Bevan, 11.Barnes. Subs: 12.Pritchett, 14.Lynden, 15.Creed, 16.Walters, 17.Yarmolenko
Cribbs: 1.Yakymchuck, 2.Farrow, 12.Kendall, 4.Smith, 14.Clayton, 19.Crouch, 7.Davis, 8.Sullivan, 9.Weaver, 10.Kellow, 11.Crossley-John. Subs: 3.Lock, 5.Constable, 15.Clayton, 18.Dunleavy, 17.Ponsillo
Cribbs then had an appeal for a penalty after Davis tried to get on the end of Merchant's parry. It was at the opposite end of the ground, so unclear from my vantage point. No doubt the defender eased Davis off the ball, but a foul? Not so sure.
That was a just past the hour mark and, on 63 minutes, Tuffley finally made the breakthrough. A fee-kick on the edge of the box was pushed away by Yakymchuck only for Simpson to latch onto it and lift a teasing ball into the 6-yard box. Harley Mustoe emerged from a cluster of players to plant his header past the keeper. 1-1
Rovers had their tails up now. Having found the way through, they went in search of another goal, urged on by their lone drummer who stands alone in the far corner of the ground. They were straight back on the offensive from kick-off and came close. However, seven minutes after equalising, they did go in front. A looping cross from the right was contested by a group of players, the ball skipping off a defender's head toward the back post. There was Karnell Chambers to volley in off the opposite post. 2-1. Excellent technique to control the volley.
With their noses in front Tuffley set about holding on to the points, although they still managed to lose possession more in the closing stages than they had all game, much to the frustration of goalkeeper and captain Luke Merchant, who was growing increasingly frustrated with his troops towards the end.
Having said that, it was Tuffley who came closest to grabbing another goal when Mustoe drove across the edge of the Cribbs area before unleashing a shot that crashed against the Cribbs crossbar.
FT Tuffley Rovers 2 Cribbs 1. A well-deserved three points for Tuffley who dominated the game for the majority of the 90 minutes, despite going in a goal down at the break. Once they got the equaliser it felt like it was just a matter of time until the scored again.
Both teams are in FA Cup action on Saturday. Tuffley travel to Hartpury University in what looks like a very tricky tie against last season's Hellenic Premier winners.
Cribbs, meanwhile, welcome Banbury-based, United Counties side, Easington Sports to The Lawns.
Tuffley Rovers: 1.Merchant(c), 2.McLean, 3.Clifford, 4.Simpson, 5.Herbert, 6.McGuirk, 7.Warrington, 8.Mustoe, 9.Chambers, 10.Bevan, 11.Barnes. Subs: 12.Pritchett, 14.Lynden, 15.Creed, 16.Walters, 17.Yarmolenko
Cribbs: 1.Yakymchuck, 2.Farrow, 12.Kendall, 4.Smith, 14.Clayton, 19.Crouch, 7.Davis, 8.Sullivan, 9.Weaver, 10.Kellow, 11.Crossley-John. Subs: 3.Lock, 5.Constable, 15.Clayton, 18.Dunleavy, 17.Ponsillo
The Ground
Tuffley play their home games at Glevum Park, wedged between the A38, the A430 and an industrial park, just to the South of Gloucester city centre. The ground is accessed via a service road off Lower Tuffley Lane. There's a smallish car park directly in front of the ground and further parking available along the side of the service road. Entrance is through a single turnstile off the car park, although I believe there is another entrance accessible on foot from the local housing estate. There's a snack bar immediately to your left as you enter and a bar just to the right. There's also a covered seating area outside the bar, directly behind the goal. This is protected by a mesh to prevent stray shots hitting the unsuspecting punters. At this end of the ground, the car park end, there is also a section of covered standing on once side of the goal and a covered seating stand (The AW Purdy Stand) on the other side. There are also two further covered spectator areas. A small seated stand (The Pat Tobin Memorial Stand) and a covered standing area, alongside the dugouts on the industrial park side. The pitch slopes slightly away from the car park end.
Tuffley play their home games at Glevum Park, wedged between the A38, the A430 and an industrial park, just to the South of Gloucester city centre. The ground is accessed via a service road off Lower Tuffley Lane. There's a smallish car park directly in front of the ground and further parking available along the side of the service road. Entrance is through a single turnstile off the car park, although I believe there is another entrance accessible on foot from the local housing estate. There's a snack bar immediately to your left as you enter and a bar just to the right. There's also a covered seating area outside the bar, directly behind the goal. This is protected by a mesh to prevent stray shots hitting the unsuspecting punters. At this end of the ground, the car park end, there is also a section of covered standing on once side of the goal and a covered seating stand (The AW Purdy Stand) on the other side. There are also two further covered spectator areas. A small seated stand (The Pat Tobin Memorial Stand) and a covered standing area, alongside the dugouts on the industrial park side. The pitch slopes slightly away from the car park end.
The Programme
A 32-page, matt finish, full colour, matchday programme at just £1.00 is very good value for money. Programme editor Neil Spiller, who incidentally was also walking around handing printed team sheets to interested parties before kick-off, has struck the right balance of interesting articles, play pen-pics, advertising, squad lists, statistics and even a half-time quiz. The programme is also available a free download online, but it's great to see a club sticking to printed copies too. I understand that this can be a costly exercise, but printed programmes are one of those traditions that should be retained as long as possible. This particular programme is a superb example of what can be done.
Ground Number: 452
Att: 120
Entrance: £7.00
Programme: £1.00
A 32-page, matt finish, full colour, matchday programme at just £1.00 is very good value for money. Programme editor Neil Spiller, who incidentally was also walking around handing printed team sheets to interested parties before kick-off, has struck the right balance of interesting articles, play pen-pics, advertising, squad lists, statistics and even a half-time quiz. The programme is also available a free download online, but it's great to see a club sticking to printed copies too. I understand that this can be a costly exercise, but printed programmes are one of those traditions that should be retained as long as possible. This particular programme is a superb example of what can be done.
Ground Number: 452
Att: 120
Entrance: £7.00
Programme: £1.00
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