Rovers hoping home comforts spur them on

Tuffley Rovers will play at their Glevum Park home for the first time since 13 August, following recent pitch renovation work, as they host Fleet Spurs in the Isuzu FA Vase Second Qualifying Round this Saturday; 364 days after they played host to the same opposition, at the same stage of the same competition, which, at that time, was the first home fixture of the 2021/22 season.

Saturday’s tie is a first home fixture after five competitive fixtures on the road and they will be hoping for success against a side from the Wessex Football League, Division One – a step lower than Rovers’ Hellenic League Premier Division status – and to continue a decent run of form that has taken Neil Mustoe’s side to 12th place in the league table.

A Floodlit Cup win 10 days ago, away at Newent Town, was followed by a solid performance away at Thornbury Town last Saturday, as a 2-0 win secured three valuable league points and a fourth clean sheet of the season. Mustoe will be hoping that form carries through to Saturday’s FA Vase tie and his side can match, or improve upon, the 3-2 victory recorded against Fleet Spurs last season.

The Rovers boss is not expecting an easy afternoon, however.

“We know this will be a difficult game this afternoon as league form goes out of the window and anything can happen”, he confirmed. “However, a good cup run is always something we should be targeting, and it builds confidence generally knowing you are competing on various fronts and hopefully we can start and continue our FA Vase journey today.”

The Isuzu FA Vase game will kick-off at 3pm at Glevum Park. Admission will be £6 (Standard), £4 (Concessions) and £2 for U15s. The club’s official match-day programme is already available online but printed copies will also be available at the turnstiles.