Taverners gained a valuable point against a Tuffley side who arrived top of the table. The home side showed signs of rustiness in the early stages as the visitors dominated the early play and were relieved when Warren Mann cut in from the left and shot into the side netting when he had better options inside him. Rovers won numerous corners but found Tavs keeper Duane Portlock in dominant mood as he punched well to clear the danger zone. At the other end Tuffley keeper Adie Bennett slid outside his box with the ball in his arms giving Tavs a free kick in a dangerous position. Tom Hanley played the ball into the near post and Tom Burridge steered the ball just wide of the post.

The intensity of Rovers attacks increased in the second period but with centre-backs Ian Preece and Paul Jennings in dominant mood and the combination of Jay Redbond and Craig Hughes shackling Warren Mann they found themselves up against an impregnable barrier. The visitors closest effort came on 78 minutes when Hughes was harshly adjudged to have handled on the edge of his area. Free kick specialist Victor Webb stepped forward and curled his kick over the wall with Portlock relieved to see the effort hit the side netting. At the other end Hanley sent in a good 25 yard effort which Bennett scrambled across his goal to save at the expense of a corner and when Hanley broke clear and sent the ball across the face of the goal, Mark Harsant was inches away from breaking the deadlock. The individual battle between Mann and Redbond was brought to a premature end with ten minutes to play when Redbond was sent off for two yellow cards which really did not merit a sending off but left Tavs having to dig in to see out the game and claim a point which all their side worked their socks off to earn.

This Saturday Tavs entertain in-form Highridge United KO 2pm