Tranmere 2-1 Stoke

Last updated : 03 August 2007 By Matthew Jones
Tranmere Rovers came out on top in their final game at Prenton Park before the new season starts as they defeated Championship side Stoke City 2-1 in a pre-season friendly.

Ian Goodison and Steve Davies got the goals in either half for Tranmere as they gained an excellent win, with Danny Higginbottom getting a conselation goal for the Potters.

Rovers made two changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Bolton six days ago, as Tranmere started with Coyne, Sherriff, Goodison, Chorley, Stockdale, Davies, McLaren, Ahmed, Shuker, Greenacre and Zola. Stoke lined up with ex-Rovers players Clint Hill and Steve Simonson in their side.

Mamady Sidibe hit an overhead kick wide of the post early on for Stoke, but it was Tranmere who got the best of the early exchanges, Calvin Zola heading at Simonson from close range before "Simmo" was again forced into action from Ahmed soon after.

Stockdale's cross was poorly headed wide by Davies before Simonson made a superb save from Zola on 24-minutes, Shuker providing the cross for Zola who's diving header was pushed over the bar from close range by the 'keeper.

Simonson was again called into action from Greenacre's quick shot minutes later before Zola's cross was caught well underneath his crossbar by the former Everton goalkeeper.

Stoke managed to venture out of their own half for a brief moment as Higginbottom shot wide before Goodison scored just before half time, the defender scoring his first goal at Prenton Park and first in a white shirt since Yeovil away in February 2006 as he shot from six yards after Stoke had failed to clear a corner.

At half time Tranmere made two changes as both fullbacks, Stockdale and Sherriff, were replaced by Anthony Kay and Carl Tremarco.

Early on Tranmere sustained their first half pressure, with Greenacre just failing to connect with a Davies cross after Shuker had dummied the ball but Stoke had emerged much better after the interval, Higginbottom heading at Coyne before Lawrence shot wide for the Potters.

Just before the hour, Greenacre tried a lob which almost came off as Simonson caught the ball from Greenacre's snap shot before Rovers got their second of the game through Steve Davies.

Calvin Zola was fouled 25-yards from goal on the right-side of the Stoke penalty area after some good hold-up play. Steve Davies stepped up to take the set-piece and smashed a curling free-kick into the far side of the goal past Simonson's despairing dive.

Rovers were now going through the gears with the tempo rising every time Davies got on the ball. Zola had another effort for Rovers from Greenacre's pass but his flick, despite going past the goalkeeper was dragged back from crossing the line, this before the Congolese striker saw another shot for 18-yards strike Chris Greenacre on the head.

After Pericard had seen his shot saved by Coyne for Stoke, Rovers had more chances as Davies first saw his 20-yard shot saved low down by Simonson after his burst from midfield and then the striker-come-winger had his audacious flick saved by Simonson on his goal-line.

Stoke now turned up the pressure and with 13 minutes left on the clock, former Southampton player Danny Higginbottom got them back in the game with the best goal of the match.

After Stoke had won a free kick from a poor Adnan Ahmed challange 30-yards from goal, the full-back fired a low driving into the bottom corner leaving Coyne with no chance.

Rovers made three more changes in the final few minutes as Paul Henry, Craig Curran and Steve Jennings replaced Adnan Ahmed, Calvin Zola and Paul McLaren and despite Stoke putting pressure on the Tranmere defence Rovers held on for an excellent win.