Letcombe were left to rue a disappointing first half performance as we went down to a 3-2 defeat in Hellenic League Division One West against Tuffley Rovers.

Manager David Richardson had to shuffle his pack from the side beaten by Fairford Town last time out. Captain Tom Stone returned alongside Matt Pill in midfield, Luke Stone came back in alongside Goodchild in defence and Dan Hoskin led the line in place of Calum Pryce.

On a sunny afternoon the bobbly playing surface meant both sides were reluctant to let the ball bounce in the opening stages. We had the game's first effort in the fifth minute when a Dan Courtney volley from fully 30 yards deflected off Tom Stone and was easily saved. We carved out a further half chance five minutes later after good work by Dan Hoskin set up Chris Hewitt, his effort again saved.

Having actually established an early foothold, we were frustrated to concede a 16th minute goal. We didn't deal with a left=wing cross and despite Danny Joyce getting fingertips on a powerful shot, Warren Mann was able to turn the ball home.

Our players looked for an immediate response and we nearly got one - Courtney getting on the end of two corners as we pushed for an equaliser. We also created a good chance on 28 minutes when Tom Stone's free kick picked out Jack Hamblin and his header from a narrow angle hit the side netting.

Then came the two goal, two minute burst which ultimately took the game away from us. Tuffley went 2-0 up when Brett James took advantage of some sloppy defending to finish well in the 33rd minute and made it 3-0 moments later when Cortney Hamilton punished a weak clearance and swept the ball in.

We tried to rally before the break but our player were disappointed to come in 3-0 down, but to their absolute credit that didn't deter them and all of a sudden the second half was a different game.

Our first goal of the match came with the second half six minutes old and it was all about good old fashioned perseverance. Chris Hewitt helped a ball on towards Dan Hoskin and our Number 9 pressured the home defence. He scampered into the box and finished calmly to give us some hope.

Two minutes later Tom Stone burst into the box and looked like he had been pushed over. Our bench were convinced it was a penalty and it certainly looked like it. Referee Mr Christodoulou wasn't convinced and the game continued.

That Hoskin goal had given up belief and Matt Pill benefited from playing further up a the game went on. He fed Owen Shaw and Chris Hewitt on a couple of occasions as we turned to our pacey players to try and find a breakthrough.

Then, with 19 minutes to play, we had another lifeline. Owen Shaw was bundled over in the box and this time the referee agreed with our appeals, penalty given. Tom Stone stepped up and drilled the ball home to make it 3-2 and give us hope.

Tuffley were rattled and manager Richardson made his only substitution of the game - throwing on Ben Stone for Matt Pill with ten minutes left to play. As we pushed men forward, Tuffley weren't to be denied chances and in a frantic finish, that also saw Dan Courtney and Andy Goodchild booked, they crashed our cross bar.

At the final whistle our third placed hosts were certainly relieved to hang on and claim all three points. We gave a lot in the second half and there is no doubt that David Richardson has improved the character of this Letcombe side. We no longer lie down and we always battle to the end. It was all the more frustrating that we had given away some soft first half goals as this match could have been so different.

Letcombe: 1. Danny Joyce, 2. James Wright, 3. Jack Hamblin, 4. Luke Stone, 5. Andy Goodchild, 6. Matt Pill (12. Ben Stone 80), 7. Tom Stone (c), 8. Chris Hewitt, 9. Dan Hoskin, 10. Dan Courtney, 11. Owen Shaw. Sub not used: 14. David Richardson