Rovers suffer Carling Cup Agony and despair at the KC again

Last updated : 23 August 2006 By Matthew Jones
Sherriff scores his first Rovers goal despite the ball not touching the net
Tranmere Rovers suffered Carling Cup First Round Heartache for the second year running following a 2-1 defeat after extra time to Coca-Cola Championship club Hull City last night.

Ronnie Moore made just one change to the side which beat Yeovil 2-1 at Prenton Park on Saturday, replacing the injured Paul McLaren with the experienced Jason McAteer in midfield, meaning Steven Jennings stepped up on to the substitute bench.

It was Rovers who started much the brighter. Early chances fell to Chris Greenacre, who was flagged offside and Chris Shuker, who curled a 25-yard free kick just over.

After Dean Marney had had a weak shot caught to his left by Gavin Ward, Shuker brooke into the box after a great Rovers passing move, but his first touch let him down and allowed Myhill in the Hull goal to gather the ball.

On 30 minutes, Chris Greenacre collected the ball 25 yards out and un-lieshed a fantastic 25-yard shot which was heading for the top corner until Myhill pushed the shot round the post.

However, from the resulting set piece, Rovers took the lead, little did their fans know it! Ellison curled in the corner which was pushed towards Shane Cansdell-Sherriff at the far post by Myhill. Rovers' Aussie Skipper headed the ball goalwards but it was cleared.

Yet, after much confision and knowbody quite knowing what was going on, everybody began to walk back to their positions for a kick off. At this point, the Rovers fans realised that they had scored and went absolutely crazy!

Rovers continued to have the better of the chances, with Greenacre heading over from a Shuker cross whilst ward made a sharp save from Fagan at the other end.

On 54-minutes, with Rovers still very much in control of the game following the half time interval, Gareth Taylor headed narrowly over from a McAteer cross. Sadly, this was about the only header Taylor won in the whole 120 minutes.

Just two minutes later, Hull equalised with a slightly lucky goal for Ben Burgess. Ryan France crossed the ball in from out wide and Burgess guided the ball home with a header.

Hull were now in control of the tie, and if anyone was going to win it from now, it would have been Hull. Rovers had lost all their momentum and it was Hull who were looking very dangerous.

Gavin Ward made fantastic one-handed saves off goalbound efforts from Elliot and Burgess headers and keeping Rovers in the game.

Ronnie Moore reacted by making his first substitution, a slightly strange one, replacing Chris Shuker with Calvin Zola and moving Chris Greenacre onto the wing.

Zola was as usual an immediate impace, as after he made a surging run through the Hull defence, the ball found it's way to Gareth Taylor, who put his lob over the bar.

Ward made another great save from Stuart Elliot minutes later, after the Northern Ireland international had let crack with a thunderous 25-yard effort.

However, niether team could find that killer second goal and so they game was taken into extra-time, an additional 30 minutes of play.

Rovers started the extra-time period the better, with John Mullin having a shot blocked before Gareth Taylor was presented with a golden opportunity after a slip up from the Hull defence.

A ball from Greenacre was mis-read by the Hull defender and the ball fell to Gareth Tayor just 10 yards out with a perfect angle, no defenders around him and only the 'keeper to beat. However, the Welsh international couldn't even connect with the ball, let alone get it on target, as a great chance went begging and Hull were let off the hook.

Hull were back on the attack on 100 minutes, when the ball fell to Craig Fagan in the Rovers penalty area. However, the striker lost his head and blasted the ball well over the bar and into the stand where the Rovers fans were seated.

At this point, Ronnie Moore decided to make another chance, replacing former Republic of Ireland international Jason McAteer with Steve Jennings in the centre of midfield.

On the stroke of half time in extra time, Calvin Zola tried a spectacular overhead kick from a Kevin Ellison cross. However, the Strikers effort fell just wide of the post.

After the interval and out of nowhere, Hull took the lead curtesy of a fantastic effort from substitute Daryll Duffy. Duffy picked the ball up 30 yards out in midfield, and unlieshed a wicked thunderous effort which beat Gavin Ward for pace a crashed into the back of the Hull net, an effort which, atleast momentarily silenced the Tranmere faithful.

Ronnie Moore had no choice but to bring on Steve Davies for the tired Kevin Ellison as the Tranmere boss stuck four men upfront.

Rovers were able to muster a few more attacks, as Greenacre shot straight at Myhill and with seconds left Steve Davies hit a free-kick straight at the Hull wall from the edge of the Dee, however, Tranmere just couldn't find that goal to take the game to penalties.

There were many plus points for Ronnie Moore to take out of the game, as his side outplayed their Championship opponents until they equalised, making Hull look very ordinary at times.

However, Moore will be dissapointed that his team couldn't find that killer blow - a second goal - even when they were presented with golden opportunities to do so.

Finally a word for the travelling 257 Rovers faithful, who were fantastic through-out the 120 minutes. They made plenty of noise throughout the game, often outsinging the 6500 home fans and I'm sure giving the players that little bit more momentum.

Jones' Man Of The Match: There was really only one contender from yesterdays game. Although Stockdale, Ward and Sherriff all had good games, Ian Goodison was superb at the heart of the Rovers defence again. He was cool on the ball when under pressure and rarely, if ever, slipped up, making some crutial tackles and playing some creative balls from defence.