Tranmere 2-1 Brighton and Hove Albion

Last updated : 09 April 2007 By Matthew Jones
Late Greenacre goal gets Rovers 3 points
Tranmere Rovers could count themselves somewhat lucky to come away from Prenton Park with a 2-1 win this Easter Monday after despite a poor performance, they scored two goals in the last 14 minutes to win the game.

Ronnie Moore made a number of changes from the defeat to Blackpool, as Carl Tremarco, John Mullin and Jason McAteer were all forced out through injury and suspension whilst Gareth Taylor and Chris McCready also dropped out of the side, replaced by Shane Sherriff, John Thompson, Kevin Ellison, Paul McLaren and Danny Harrison.

The game started well for Tranmere as Flinders saved magnificently from Ian Goodison in the early minutes, pushing the Jamaican's header on to the post, the centre-back is still looking for his first goal at Prenton Park.

On seven minutes El-Abd headed wide of Gavin Ward's left hand post before the Seagulls took the lead on 11 minutes through an Ian Goodison own goal.

After some good passing in midfield, a Brighton attack found its way to Dean Cox. With Robbie Stockdale standing off the striker, Cox broke into the penalty area and beating Thompson's tackle, crossed into the six yard box where the ball hit Ian Goodison and went through Gavin Ward's legs into the goal.

The goal knocked the early wind out of Tranmere's sails as the game became very dull with niether side having many chances.

Many of Tranmere's chances however involved tall striker Calvin Zola, fresh from his two goals against Blackpool, as on 17-minutes he shot over after a neat turn 25-yards away from goal.

Minutes later, Ellison had a header comfortably saved by Flinders whilst Zola looped a weak header well over the cross bar from McLaren's cross soon after.

The pressue returned to the Tranmere half the field around the half hour mark with Gavin Ward forced into a neat save from Jake Robinson whilst from the result corner, Tommy Fraser dummied a pass out towards the dee from where Sam Rents smashed the ball against the crossbar.

Ward was forced into another save soon after as he hung in the air to clutch a ball heading for the far corner from a shot 12 yards from goal.

Just before half time with the last chance of the half Shuker shot right across goal after great work from Zola as Tranmere searched for an equaliser as news of Yeovil, occupying the final play-off place, trailing filtered through.

The second half started awfully, with niether side looking likely to have a shot let alone score despite Rovers slim play-off chances still being alive.

Zola did volley will over into the upper reaches of the Cowshed from a Greencre knock down whilst Cox's low drive was saved - just - by Gavin Ward but the half flickered away into nothingness.

Tranmere were finally woken on 62-minutes as Ronnie Moore replaced Kevin Ellison with Steve Davies. Tranmere immediately had some new impitus as they pushed forward for an equaliser, the substitute seeing his 20-yard curling free-kick saved at his near post by Flinders soon after leaving the bench.

Rovers had another free-kick from shooting distance minutes later but on this occassion Chris Shuker stepped up and sent the ball well over the bar.

The turning point of the game came on 75-minutes as Shuker was replaced by Craig Curran, making his home debut after scoring an impressive 15 goals in 20 games for the reserves this season.

The striker was to have a home debut never to forget as he ran straight towards the penalty area and vollied an excellent Shane Sherriff cross into the goal with his first touch in first team football at Prenton Park and his first goal for the Tranmere first team.

Tranmere now looked like the team most likely to win, despite their awful first 70 minutes as Davies and Calvin Zola both sent chances wide.

With Tranmere pushing forward, they became stretched at the back allowing their visitors to break and with minutes left on the clock Bas Savage broke into the Tranmere penalty area and shot wide of the near post when he should at least have worked the goalkeeper.

The pressure returned to the Cowshed end of the field however as a thunderous Robbie Stockdale drive was pushed over by Flinders whilst Craig Curran was proving a problem down the Tranmere right, creating more chances for Davies and Harrison.

Well into injury time Chris Greenacre, running away from goal, broke into the corner of the box and was brought down by a silly challange. The referee pointed to the spot immediatly and Greenacre stepped up and put the ball into the back of the net despite Flinders getting a firm hand on the ball.

This was the last action of the game as Tranmere held on for the win to complete the double over Brighton for the season.

It is probably fair to say that they didn't deserve the win after an awful opening hour but they eventually held on to get the win.

Jones' Man Of The Match: Many of the team put in poor, passionless performances whilst if Craig Curran had been on the pitch long enough he would have won the award. However, the best player on the pitch today for me was Danny Harrison, who tracked back excellently and had some chances to score himself.