Brentford 1-1 Tranmere Rovers

Last updated : 09 December 2006 By Matthew Jones
Shuker free-kick earns Tranmere point in London
Tranmere Rovers once again fought back from a goal behind to earn a 1-1 draw for the second time in four days down in London today.

A first-half injury time free-kick from Chris Shuker equalised for Rovers after a 38th minute header from Ide had put The Bee's ahead, with Shuker's goal making sure Rovers kept up their unbeaten league run, now stretching to six games.

Ronnie Moore made two changes to the Tranmere side which drew 1-1 with Scunthorpe in mid-week, as fit again Gareth Taylor replacing Calvin Zola in attack and Robbie Stockdale replacing John Thompson at right-back, who returned to Nottingham Forest on Thursday. There were also places for Steve Davies, Carl Tremarco and Danny Harrison on the bench, with Henry, Jones and Curran dropping out.

Early pressure came from Rovers, against a very poor looking Brentford outfit. Shane Sherriff had Rovers first chance of the game, vollying over into the terrace come building site from Kevin Ellison' cross whilst Brentford's best effort in the opening stages was from John Mousinho who shot wide from 25-yards.

Rovers next best chance fell to Chris Shuker, who very nearly scored. After breaking free down the right, the winger recieved the ball and hit it first time on the volley. However, with goalkeeper Masters stranded, the ball fell agonsingly wide of the left-hand post.

Ellison had another chance for Rovers but was unlucky as he recieved the ball unexpectadly in the area after a missed header, and with his first touch letting him down, the chance had gone.

Jo Kuffour shot wide on 16 minutes for The Bee's whilst a terrible back pass from Chris McCready almost landed Rovers in some severe trouble as Chris Moore pounced on the ball. However, Gavin Ward was quick out of his goal and pulled off a fine save from Moore's effort at point blank range.

Rovers were in search of the opening goal soon after, with Ellison again in the thick of the action as his header back across goal when he could and perhaps should have shot was deflected into the path of Paul McLaren who's shot was deflected out for a corner.

Mullin shot straight at Masters soon after, as Rovers built up the pressure, whilst Kevin Ellison's free-kick missed everybody and almost bounced into the net, if it wasn't for a fine diving save by Masters, pushing the ball round his right-hand post.

It was still all Tranmere, as the visitors had more corners and more chances, with Gareth Taylor heading narrowly wide with his flick-on from a Shuker corner and Greenacre also failed to convert a chance created for him by Taylor.

Completely against the run of play on 38 minutes, Brentford took the lead with a looping header from Charlie Ide.

After former Torquay player Jo Kuffour got round the back of Robbie Stockdale thanks to some neat work down the Brentford left, Kuffour was able to get a cross in from the byline which was headed back across goal and into the top corner by Charlie Ide.

The lead however, lasted just seven minutes, nine including injury time, as Chris Shuker scored a carbon-copy free-kick of his one against Bury in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

After Greenacre had been fouled 30-yards from goal, Kevin Ellison tried to take a quick free-kick. However, thankfully the referee pulled back the play and gave Shuker a second bite at the cherry.

Shuker obliged, with his 30-yard curling effort looking as if it would be in from the second he hit it, leaving 'keeper Masters stranded half way across his goal.

Gareth Taylor brought the first action of the second half, producing a save out of Masters with his header from Greenacre's cross whilst Kuffour again threatened at the other end but couldn't hit the target.

Robbie Stockdale, making his first start in over six weeks, was replaced by Carl Tremarco at right-back on 56 minutes, with the defender's place on the field looking somewhat ominous after a booking and two warning's from referee Mr. I Williamson.

The game was getting worse and worse as the second half dragged on, with both sides adopting a hoof and hope style of football.

Brentford looked the most threating out of two poor sides at this point of the game, with Ward having to make saves from weak shots by Kuffour and Cox.

On 62-minutes, Ronnie Moore looked to shake things around for Rovers as he went in search of the win, as Calvin Zola replaced Chris Greenacre upfront, when many would have thought Gareth Taylor would have made way.

It was the Congolease striker who brought about Rovers best chance of the second half on 72-minutes, running on to an Ellison flick on and hitting a brilliant left-footed shot which had Masters worried but went just past the post.

Zola had another chance for Rovers later on, as did Taylor, but niether could beat Masters whilst Willock's weak shot was also saved by Ward.

In the end, a draw was the end result and one which many Tranmere fans would be dissapointed with, considering their opposition were 18 without a win before todays game.

However, one point is better than none on the road, lifting Rovers into fourth place, one position and point ahead of Oldham who lost 2-1 away at Chesterfield today. It is also notable to point at that Rovers hardly ever get anything at Griffin Park!

Jones' Man Of The Match: For me, Ian Goodison shone through again today, proving Ronnie Moore right in offering him a new two-year contract. The defender made some brilliant last ditch challanges on the left, especially in the second half, along with some key interceptions and he signed my program when he got off the team coach!