Ross takes Ardley into top five a he hits the winner

Ardley climbed into the top five of the UHLSport Hellenic with a 1-0 victory over Tuffley Rovers thanks to a solitary goal from Jack Ross.

Leam Howards drove at Tuffley keeper Dave Evans before Nick Bennion had to turn away a low drive from Liam Wright. Carl Tappin released Howards who lifted the ball over the advancing Evans but the ball bounced wide of the far post.

Luke Cray and Bradley Cox denied Ryan Dobbins and Jake Burns while Tappin blocked a shot from Ashley Davies. Warren Mann got his head to the ensuing corner but Bennion comfortably saved.

Matt Cruse tested Evans with a fierce drive, Nathaniel Lewars had a close range shot blocked and from the ensuing corner Chris Jackson headed against the bar. In between, Davies skied over.

Ardley broke the deadlock four minutes after the restart. Howards was released down the left and he crossed for Ross to fire back across Evans and inside the bottom corner.

Cruse crossed for Ross who was thwarted by Evans and from the resulting corner Jackson’s header bounced wide of the far post. Shayne Anson went close to an equaliser but Jackson headed clear as Ardley kept another clean sheet.

Davis said: “It was a real scrappy game, we knew it would be tough and you have to give credit to Tuffley, they have really acquitted themselves well this season.

“We did well in the first half and created some decent opportunities, at the same time limiting them to shots from outside the box. When we scored early in the second half I felt we were sure to go on and get a second goal and maybe more.

“But their keeper has done well and we maybe haven’t made the most of some opportunities we had. We ended the game hanging on because a single goal lead can quickly turn into a draw.

“The pleasing thing is we’ve been winning games for a number of months now and not dropped out of the top six. We find ourselves fifth and it’s up to us now to see out the final six games to try and stay there.”