Accrington reserves 3-0 Tranmere reserves

Last updated : 02 April 2009 By Matthew Jones
Tranmere Rovers' reserves were on the end of another defeat yesterday, as they lost 3-0 in the depths of Lancashire at the Crown Ground against Accrington Stanley's second XI.

Shaun Garnett was once again not able to name a particularly strong side due to the involvement of Aaron Cresswell in the first team and injury to Terry Gornell, meaning the squad of fourteen included all six first year scholars and just three professionals.

Rovers lined up like this:

Collister

Holmes (c) Richardson Waterfall Corrigan

MacKreth Fraughan Baker Wilson

Rule MacAuley

Substitutes: Achterberg, Pursehouse, Ashcroft

The game had an open start to it and both teams were quick to have a couple of chances, with Luke Waterfall coming closest early on, his hooked shot over his shoulder hitting the cross bar and bouncing away to safety after Accrington had failed to clear a corner.

However, it was the home side who took the lead mid-way through the first half with a goal the came about thanks to some excellent build up play.

Tranmere midfielder Ryan Fraughan was caught out on the ball in a dangerous area near the edge of his own box, and Accrington played some excellent one and two touch football to work their way into the area before the ball was thumped into the roof of the net from 14 yards, leaving the advancing Collister with no chance.

Rovers struck back as they looked to equalise, Josh MacAuley their most threatening outlet, and the Tranmere youngster came close on a number of times.

He first came close as a brilliant dribble from inside his own half took the striker to the edge of the area, though the ball bobbled on a poor pitch and his weak shot was comfortably saved by the 'keeper.

Minutes later, MacAuley his a fierce shot from 24-yards that the 'keeper did well to get across and push out for a corner, with Waterfall heading the resulting corner over the bar.

An effort from similar distance then saw MacAuley his a powerful shot straight at the 'keeper whilst at the other end, Collister made a stunning save as he tipped a free-kick over the bar.

Ryan Fraughan curled a free-kick into the side netting for Tranmere whilst a great run down the right-wing by Jack MacKreth saw the player carry the ball into the box, though his shot went into the side netting.

The score then was 1-0 at half-time, though Tranmere most certainly deserved to be level at least, having dominated the first period.

However, the same could not be said of the second half, as Rovers came out and looked much weaker, as Tranmere's defence weaked and the attack failed to provide as much of a threat to the Accrington defence.

Accrington started the second period brightly, thought the half was not as open as the first 45 minutes and as such, at first chances were few and far between.

Dave Wilson tried a few runs down the wing for Tranmere, though he often held onto the ball too long or was tackled, whilst at the other end Rovers' defence was staying reasonably strong.

Tranmere did come close once though when a fantastic cross into the box from Wilson, rapping his foot round the ball and crossing it into the six yard box, found it's way to MacKreth at the back post, who blasted high and wide from a tight angle.

Mid-way through the second period, Tranmere replaced Rule upfront with Ashcroft, whilst Pursehouse replaced Baker, meaning Corrigan moved into central midfield as Pursehouse played at left-back.

This seemed to disrupt Tranmere though as from then on the chances started flowing for the home side.

Collister, who had a nasty black eye after a collision with Holmes in the first half, was forced into making a string of fantastic saves to keep the scores at 1-0 as his defence in front of him crumbled.

From point blank range, the 'keeper made one or two excellent saves, bettered ony by a magnificent tip round the post from a free-kick that was brilliantly hit and curled round the wall towards the bottom post, and a long range effort that Collister acrobatically and expertly tipped over the bar.

However, there was only so much the 'keeper could do do keep it at 1-0, and before long Accrington made it two as after Collister had saved a shot, the ball rebounded to a Stanley player who slotted home, before minutes later the Tranmere midfield and defence allowed a player to stride through unchallanged and slot under Collister into the net from just inside the box.

Corrigan hit a free-kick narrowly over for Rovers whilst Rovers had a couple of other chances but they came to nothing, as MacAuley forced two more excellent saves from the 'keeper from point blank range.

A disappointing result from Rovers then, though their first half performance was much better than the scoreline suggests.  However, if it wasn't for Collister, comfortably the man of the match, it could have been seven or eight goals for Stanley.

Rovers struggled down their left defensively in the second half, whilst play maker Ryan Fraughan couldn't get as much of the ball as he would have liked as he was quickly closed down by two Stanley players every time the ball came near him.

MacAuley played well and showed some excellent strength and touches, a performance that deserved a goal, whilst MacKreth was a constant threat down the right. 

It was Tranmere's defence that let them down in the second half though.  Holmes had a solid game, but otherwise Rovers missed tackles, interceptions and headers too often, leading to a number of Accrington attacks.