Boxing Day battle awaits

Tuffley Rovers will host local rivals Longlevens at Glevum Park on Boxing Day (3pm KO) looking to improve on their poor Christmas record against the side jointly managed by Craig Martin and Michael Palmer.

Neil Mustoe has overseen one win against Levens – last season’s Boxing Day fixture at Sawmills End brought a 3-1 win – but was in charge for the 4-0 defeat at Glevum Park in 2022 and had a watching brief when Rovers lost 1-0 at home in 2021, days after his appointment was confirmed.

Rovers last home victory against Longlevens came on 26 December 2016, when Warren Mann scored the only goal of the game, the only season where both Premier Division meetings between the two sides have gone in Rovers’ favour.

Earlier this season Levens won 1-0 in their first league meeting of 2024/25, with former Rovers player Jack Beardsell getting the only goal of the game.

The game is always a competitive fixture and both sides will be sure to battle for the Boxing Day points…and for bragging rights until the next meeting!