Port Vale - Tranmere 2-3 (1-2)

Vale Park, 17.03.07
Att: 4 809

After our very poor performance against Swansea, it was very important to get a rsult away at Port Vale to still be in a ahout for a play off place. We started brilliantly as we're 1-0 up after three minutes. Shukers cross found Greenacre, and he headed Rovers to an early lead. Rovers could easily have been 2-0 up inside the first ten minutes, but the same man couldn't angle the shot efficiantly, resulting in the ball hitting the post. Half an hlur later Shuker stormed into the penalty area, was tripped and the ref pointed to the spot. From the other side of the pitch, it was a bit soft, I have to say... However, it's thankfully the refs decision, and Greenacre netted his 18th of the season. Just a minute later Vale were in the match again, as one of their midfielders took a shot from outside the area. It took a deflection and wrongfooted Gavin Ward. 1-2. It stayed like that until the 73rd minute when Port Vale managed to find an equalizer. I didn't see what happened, but it was a goalmouth scramble and i have also said Ward a bit to blame... However, he did a couple of good saves before that, so can't really blame him. Anyway, that's the fourth time this season Rovers have let a 2-goal lead slip up... So I think the majority of the fans just waited for the third to go in... That happened ten minuted later, but it was Rovers who scored! Brilliant, finally we managed to score the winner in an even game! And Ellison was the scorer, with a really good header from a Shuker cross!
MOM: Chris Shuker, was involved in all three goals.

Tranmere - Swansea 0-2 (0-1)

Prenton Park, 10.03.07
Att: 7 467

I could only watch the first half and the first 10 minutes of the second half because of a wedding later the same evening. And that was ok, cause worse football is hard to find. Just awful. The first goal was former Rovers-player Andy Robinson, probably the smallest player on the pitch, who headed home. Poor defending allowed that... Rovers couldn't produce anything, and as the second half started, everyone expected the performance to get much better, but only to find out that it continued as it had for the first 45 minutes. Lee Trundle took advantage of some more sloppy defending, and through on goal he didn't make any mistakes... And then I left... Outside the ground I heard a big cheers from the homecrowd. I thought they had pulled one back, only to find out that Trundle had been sent off... A very poor game of footy, and I was told that it was equally bad for the rest of the half... Season worse at home??
No MOM today!

Tranmere - Chesterfield 2-0 (1-0)

Prenton Park, 02.03.07
Att: 6 254

Rovers came out in a regurlar 4-4-2 formation again, after the embarassing first half against Cheltenham. And after the 3-1 defeat against Leyton Orient in the last game, we really needed three points in this. Friday night football at Prenton is good for several reasons; one is that we attract some footballfans from other places, such as Norway. As Liverpool played Man U the day after, it must have been about 50 norwegians at the game! And I got a mention in the programme :)
Anyway, the game started in a good tempo and Rovers thought they were in front after five minutes when Ellison cut inside from his left to score, but it was ruled out for offside. Both McLaren and Taylor could have done better with their chances and Allot for the guests shot wide from 25 yards. After 21 minuted Rovers was in front as Greenacre passed the ball to Mullin just outside the area. He ran into the box and smashed it past the goalie into the top corner from 12 yards out. Brilliant goal! Just before half-time, Shane Sherriff hit the post as Rovers tried to go in with a 2 goal decifit.
Just a couple of minutes into the second half, McAteer nearly gifted Chesterfield a goal, as he tried to backpass to Ward, but the ball was snapped up by Holmes, but Ward did brilliant to save low to his left. McAteer thought he had made up for his mistake later in the half as he smashed the ball into the net from outside the area after a clearance. But again, it was ruled out, this time for a foul by Taylor on one of the defenders.
It became 2-0 on 73 minutes when Shuker ran down the right, crossed a low and hard ball into the box, and found Greenacre completely free on the far post. Also a very good goal!
The last fifteen minutes didn't create any chances and it was a very deserved victory in the end, well done lads!
MOM: Paul McLaren.

Tranmere - Cheltenham 2-2 (0-2)

Prenton Park, 20.02.07
Att: 5 576

Ronnie Moore opted for continuing with the sucsessful 4-3-3 formation, which gave Rovers a 2-0 victory awat at Yeovil. However, Rovers never got going in this game, playing the new formation. The midfield were all over the place, and couldn't get a foot in as the poorly placed visitors bossed the game. Before half an hour was played we were 2-0 down, thanks to sloppy defending. Goalkeeper Ward didn't come for the first goal, as Lowe headed home, and the second goal was a mistake from the normally reliable Goodison. In his defence he did play with an injury... Another wasted oppurtunity to close the gap on the teams above us, everyone thought... But Rovers came out in the second half very different, and just within four minutes Shukes had got one back. He cut inside from his right, and his shot went in low to the keepers right. Tranmere continued to press and had several chances, but couldn't find a way back in the game - yet. As Rovers pressed and really went for the equalizer, Cheltenham hit us on the break several times. Poor finishing and a good Ward held us in the game, and in the end that was very important. As the clock ticked into extratime, substitute Calvin Zola won the ball out of nothing on the leftside, beat a couple of players, and crossed a low cross towards the nearpost. Greenacre had done brilliant to get loose from his marker and headed home for a well deserved point for Rovers. Before the game I would have been disappointed with a point, but as the game went on, I was happy with one. Well done lads, in the second half!
MOM: Chris Shuker