Tranmere - Huddersfield Town 2-2 (2-0)

Prenton Park, 26.09.06
Att: 6 702

I feel like we just have lost a game. Two points lost definitaly. After being two goals up halftime, I would never think that we would only end up with one come the final whistle!
It started off very well. Chris Shuker had a very good first half. He really wanted to break his duck, and showed everyone that he was on fire. It was him that created the first goal with a brilliant cross that was met by Calvin Zolas head. He made no mistakes, and scored his second goal of the season. Huddersfield came up with nothing during the first half and Rovers produced one of the best halfs I've ever witnessed. Especially the second goal was something very special. I dare to make a comparison to Argentinas wondergoal in the World-cup. Stockdale, Shuker, Mullin and McLaren passed the ball around for a number of times on the right. Suddenly Shuker set off into the penalty-area, rounding the Town-defenders, cleverly passed the ball to Greenacre who scored with a low shot to round off a brilliant move! On top of this Greenacre had the ball in the net straight before the half-time whistle, but it was ruled out for an offside.
Huddersfield looked much stronger in the second half, and their first goal came as a result of a mistake by Gavin Ward. He came out to deal with a cross, but failed. Andy Booth easily sent the ball into the empty goal to 2-1. Just before that goal Shuker really should have made it 3-0 when he hit the post when alone with the Town-goalie. Huddersfield continued to play some neat football and got rewarded when Taylor-Fletcher equalised 15 minutes from time.
In the end it was a fair result posession-wise. However Rovers had enough oppurtunities to kill the game off, but as in other games, they don't score enough goals when they can...
MOM: Although very dissapointed with him in the second half, I'll give it to Chris Shuker. He had a cracker of a first half and setting up both goals.

Tranmere - Nottingham Forest 0-0 (0-0)

Prenton Park, 23.09.06
Att: 11 444

Compared to many other Rovers-supporters I wasn't very confident that we would win this afternoon. So I think one point is a point won, and not two lost...
Nearly 11 500 packed inside Prenton (it looked more like 13000!) for this top-of-the-table-clash. There was a good pre-match atmosphere, but the first half was not as good. A very dull game with no-one really having a go in the first 45 minutes, with much posession from both teams. Gavin Ward made a very good save, and Rovers had many half-chances. One of them was a free-kick from Shuker, but their goalie had control. That was it really, but it was very tense.
The second half was a bit better, though Tranmere never really got going. They gave Forest a bit too much space, and defended maybe too deep. Kevin Ellison should have scored from a tight angle, when the ball got loose after a few challenges in the box. However, he shot the ball into the Kop. Gavin Ward made some good saves, especially right at the end, when he blocked a couple of very good chances. Tranmere can count themselves very lucky that no-one of those chances was converted to a goal.
It was to be fair a very even game, and a draw was the right result, both teams had good chances and good spells, but it remained goalless. So that means we're still second behind leaders Forest. Now, bring on Huddersfield come Tuesday!
MOM: Gavin Ward, made som exellent saves during the game!

Northampton Town - Tranmere 1-3 (0-2)

Sixfield Stadium, 16.09.06
Att: 5 334

A very good restult for Rovers. A very deserved victory, but we could have played better... The homeside had the first big chance of the game as Gavin Ward miskicked a goalkick. Andy Kirk raced towards Ward, but the goalie saved to the relief of the travelling fans. On 14 minutes Calvin Zola, who had replaced Chris Greenacre up front from the midweek-game, picked the ball up and magnificently curled the ball into the far corner from 14 yards out. His first goal of the season. By 25 minutes Rovers had done two substitutions, as both Ellison and McLaren got injured. Northampton took advantage of the changes and pressured Rovers, but they couldn't get an equalizer. 35 minutes was gone when Shuker crossed to Taylor who brilliantly headed into the far post with challenge from two Cobbler-defenders.
Imiidiatly after the break everyone in the ground thought that it was game on again as McGleish got the ball on 4 yards. He managed however to kick it over the bar... And then just 10 minutes later Rovers got a penalty. Steve Davies crossed the ball to Taylor, who was challenged by Johnson. The latter handled the ball and the pen was very correctly given. John Mullin kept his nerves cool and sent the ball in the back of the net, and is now joint top-scorer with Greenacre. Northampton did get one back, when McGleish beat Ward from 18 yards out with a low shot, when he just had the goalie to beat. All in all a good game!
MOM: John Mullin had a really good game, so I'll give the mom to him. But Zola did impress me with his running and ball-control...

Rotherham United - Tranmere 2-1 (2-1)

Millmoor, 12.09.06
Att: 3 732

Down on earth again! This game ended in a deserved victory for the home side as they played some good football, especially during the first half. Tranmere helped them a lot by giving away posession far too easily, and their defending was at times awful! Rovers were lucky not too concede early on, but it lasted only until the 18th minute when a shot from Lee Williamson flew past Ward. The home side continued their pressure, and must have been let down when Rovers scored at their first chance of the game. Kevin Ellison placed a rightfooted shot near the post. The goalie got a touch, but couldn't deny the 1-1 scoreline. After Rovers's goal in the 28th minute, it was a fairly even game. But when Rovers thought they were in the game and the travelling SWA were happy and singing, Rovers showed some awful defending allowing Will Hoskins to skip past at least three players, which didn't challenge him, before curling the ball into the far corner. After halftime Rovers really didn't seem to have the confident, and when Chris Greenacre went off injured, no one up front seemed bothered. Taylor and Zola are just too similar in their playingstyle, so that didn't work. Rovers' posession weren't enough this time, it ended in our second defeat in the league this season.
MOM: Won't give my mom to anyone this evening... No one deserved it, unfortunatley!

Tranmere - Bristol City 1-0 (0-0)

Prenton Park, 08.09.06
Att: 8 111

What an atmosphere! What an exitement! What a team!!! Finally the broke the duck against Bristol City. After 4 games without scoring against them, we finally did it, but we had to wait until the 85th minute. However, it was well worth the wait!
Tranmere couldn't produce the same tempo from the start, as they did against Orient. However Rovers had most of the possession and should really have been one up by half time. Gareth Taylor narrowly headed over the bar from a free-kick, when he really should have hit the target. We could also have had a penalty, but the referee, who didn't have the best game, turned the appeal down.
In the second half Goodison headed straight into Basso's hands. The whole of the ground thought that was going in, including me! I really didn't think that Rovers were going to find the opener, but they proved me very wrong, as John Mullin netted from 12 yards out just before the end to give Rovers a deserved win! Our goalie (or was it goalscorer?) Ward, almost didn't have to make a save all night!
So happy days on the Wirral as Rovers won their first of many Friday night games of the season.
MOM: I really can't pick any. The whole team worked their socks off for the victory, and they all hugged eachother at the final whistle! A great team victory!

Tranmere - Leyton Orient 3-0 (2-0)

Prenton Park, 02.09.06
Att: 6 446

So far the best game I've seen from Rovers this season, and maybe one of the best games I've seen them play. Rovers totally dominated the game the first 20 minutes, and deservedly scored twice in that period. They should however scored at least one more and had a penalty. Read carefully; Gavin Ward, yes the Gavin Ward, scored Rovers' first goal after nine minutes (for those who don't know, Ward is Rovers' goalkeeper!). An indirect free-kick just outside his own
box was kicked way up the field and bounced over the O's goalie and into the back of the net to the much delight of the Prenton faithfuls! Their goalkeeper got a vital touch, cause if he hadn't, the goal would have been disallowed. A very good atmosphere got even better when Chris Greenacre scored just three mins later when Chris Shuker found him all alone on the edge of the six-yard box. Shuker himself had lots of oppertunities, but couldn't manage to get a goal to his name. After Rovers' spell of dominance it was an equal contest the rest of the half. The second half was a good contest between the sides. Both teams had very good goalchances, but couldn't take the advantage of them. That was until the 80th minute, when Greenacre converted a rebound from the goalie to make it 3-0 and game over. Rovers were lucky to hold out for a clean sheet at the end, when Orient had a couple of very good chances.
All in all a very good performance by Rovers! Now we're 2nd! Come on you Rovers!
MOM: John Mullin. Made a very good performance in the heart of Rovers midfield. And a 2nd mom to Ward, just for scoring his first ever senior goal! :)