Back Up Comes Up Trumps Again - Tuffley Rovers vs. Holmer Green

One of the areas of cover at Glevum Park

This weekend I was really keen to get to Malmesbury Victoria but a mixture of heavy rain the previous evening and it not really being possible to make it to another if the game was called off put doubt in my mind - the game obviously went ahead. Thankfully Tuffley Rovers tweeted before eight that their Hellenic League game with Holmer Green was definitely going ahead it was an easy choice. I had seen Holmer Green play at home previously but this game sadly only lasted ten minutes before the referee got upset and abandoned the game. That was back when Holmer Green were in the Spartan South Midlands League and this was their second season in this competition. Both sides were in the bottom half but Tuffley were boosted with a four win over Binfield the previous weekend.  

Kick off at Glevum Park

Tuffley really should take the lead when the forward is played in on goal but he sends the chance well wide. Tuffley then have two chances in quick succession as a low shot is saved before the Holmer keeper is again called upon to save a free kick.

First half action towards the out of bounds end

Holmer Green are played in and the Tuffley keeper is quick off his line to snuff out the danger. The hosts take the lead when a pull back finds the man in space who hammers the ball home. Holmer Green are still scrapping and the Tuffley keeper is alert to keep out a low bobbling shot. Tuffley almost seal the points with a header back across the keeper but his defender hacks the ball off the line. A couple of minutes later a near identical attack results in the second to confirm the win.

Tuffley looking for the opener

If you time it right you can get a train direct to Gloucester from Paddington but the more common route is to change at Swindon, either way it takes around two hours. Sadly the cathedral was hosting a service for the Women's Institute so I spent most of time in and around the docks. It is no coincidence that the dock area hosts the actual Gloucester Brewery  where you can sample their ales or you can try TANK which is the brewery pub and also has a great selection of guest local ales. Just across the road is the Gloucester branch of The Brewhouse and Kitchen which had the usual selection of beers. A short walk away you can take the number 10 bus to Lower Tuffley and the ground is a short walk across the park and down Keats Avenue to the turnstile. The bar at the ground sold cans and the welcome and general vibe from Twitter, to the people at the ground and the supporters in general was brilliant. Word also has to go to the match day programme which was top notch.

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