Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division Two

Tuffley Reserves 4 Wotton Rovers 3

WOTTON started this game on the back foot amid a torrent of attacking play from the home team.

After they rode out the storm and started to get back into the game, Wotton were denied a penalty when Clint Hopkins skipped past the static defender and was swiped to the ground but the referee waved play on to disbelief from the hoards of visiting fans.

Wotton’s attacking left them outnumbered at the back but the hard work of Ross Diment pushed the winger out wide with the ball.

A penalty was awarded when the ball appeared to strike the arm of Wotton right back Beric Wetton as he attempted to chest the ball down. Tuffley scored from the spot and went in at the break 1-0 up. Wotton’s management team had some encouraging words for the team at half time and ensured the team went out with a positive attitude.

This looked like it had worked as Wotton started well and caused the Tuffley team some problems. They were once again on the back foot however when Tuffley scored their second.

Wotton’s heads didn’t drop and after the inclusion of Connor Frost and Rob West from the bench they looked dangerous.

West latched onto a through ball and slotted past the keeper with only his third touch. Tuffley thwarted Wotton’s dominance as some lazy work from Wotton allowed them to grab a third. Despite this Wotton continued to press and Wetton made up for his earlier blip as he beat the keeper to a cross and was the quickest to react to the rebound as he smashed the ball home to put Wotton back in the hunt.

Wotton drew level shortly afterwards as a neat turn and 25-yard shot from Hopkins sailed past the spread eagled keeper and into the bottom corner.

The visitors continued to look dangerous and young Frost was unlucky with an attempted lob which the keeper got a fingertip to.

For the second week running Wotton were sucker-punched in the final minutes.

A corner was half cleared before a deflected shot cruelly evaded the visiting keeper and gave Tuffley the points.

Wotton once again battled well and showed that they can play attractive football but need to work on seeing games out and taking chances when they appear.