Premeture New-year fireworks at Vale Park

Last updated : 01 January 2006 By Matthew Jones
Tranmere made sure they ended 2005 on a high with a rare away victory at Vale Park against Port Vale in League One.

Tranmere made one change from the side that started the second half on Wednesday night, as Mark Rankine started instead of Jason McAteer who was rested.

Both sides started brightly as Leon Constantine shot well wide after two minutes and then Chris Greenacre headed into the arms of Port Vale's keeper Mark Goodlad.

Rovers put pressure on the Vale goal again three minutes later as Calvin Zola shot at Goodlad from a Gareth Roberts cross.

It was Rovers who opened the scoring with a rare goal from midfielder Danny Harrison, who scored his second of the season.

Sam Aiston, who ran Port Vale ragged for the time he was on the pitch twisted and turned in field before laying the ball back to Harrison, who was 20 yards out. The midfielder shot and it looked in from the second he struck it. The ball curled into the bottom left hand corner, leaving Goodlad with no chance.

Tranmere kept up the pressure with alot of it coming down the right. Aiston supplied Greenacre and Zola whilst also having the chance to assist a few more goals, had the crosses been better.

Rovers were suddenly put under pressure by Vale though, and it was Leon Constantine doing all the work. He sent two shots wide of Steve Wilson's goal and another shot which Wilson had to save, all in the space of about five minutes.

Then Tony Dinning, the Vale captain, had his chance to get on the score sheet from 25 yards, but Wilson was equal to his effort.

Tranmere finally put some pressure on the Vale half in the last six minutes of the first half, the chance coming from Steve Davies, after a Greenacre cross was only cleared to the 18-year old.

Davies shot from 18 yards, but he scuffed his shot and it went well wide, much to the delight of the Port Vale fans.

The second half started much like the first. Each side had early chances through Constantine and Davies but both were put wide and over of the goal.

Dinning then had a shot wide, again from outside the area where Rovers were failing to clear, before Calvin Zola shot narrowly wide from another good Greenacre cross.

Then a man who definatly deserved a goal shot wide as Rovers put more pressure on. Mark Rankine taking a shot from inside the 18 yard box which was deflected wide.

Brian Little however, soon went from what was a very good 4-4-2, working well, to a five man defence of 5-3-2. Ian Goodison and Steven Jennings coming on for Sammy Aiston, who again had had a brilliant game, and Steve Davies, who was, I suspect just tired.

Then Vale made a double change too, which seemed to please the Vale fans. Yet they still couldn't shoot on target, Leo Constantine again the naughty boy, sending a Bicycle Kick well over.

Calvin Zola had another chance 16 minutes from time, when Gareth Roberts broke down the left and crossed. But Zola's header lacked power and accuracy and went straight at Goodlad.

Vale went down to ten men when Lee Matthews, on as a substitute, was substituted eight minutes after joining the action due to a hamstring injury. Surely now that their opponents were down to ten men, Rovers could hold on?

With five minutes left, Simon Francis shot into the traveling 576 Rovers fans whilst a Roberts free-kick was deflected out for a corner after Rankine had been fouled.

The win however was soon to be sealed, through Chris Greenacre who got his 11th league goal of the season, and fourth goal in three days.

Zola had the ball down by the corner flag and passed out to Steven Jennings. Jennings danced round two or three challanges before passing infield to Danny Harrison who passed again to McAteer out on the right.

McAteer, on as a sub for Mark Rankine, ran into the box and could well have had a shot himself but chose to float over a delightful cross to Chris Greenacre who headed down past Goodlad to make it 2-0 and send Rovers fans mad.

It wasa good win, in which everybody played better than they have been doing so far this season. They were helped again by the fans, who were musical through-out the game, as is the norm at away games.

Both changes in formation and all three subs worked for Brian Little, who has made it three games unbeaten, and three games unbeaten on the road for Rovers.

Jones' Man Of The Match: Mark Rankine was particually good in midfield all game, working as an engine room again, but my man of the match goes to Ian Sharps.

Sharps is a heavily critisized played, for no real reason, yet today, he was magnificent. He won every header and every tackle and was a rock at the back which Port Vale failed to break down. Man Of The Match, for I think the first time this season from me, goes to Ian Sharps