Tranmere Rovers 2-1 Rotherham United

Last updated : 01 January 2007 By Matthew Jones
Rovers start 2007 on a high
A fourth goal of the season for Shane Sherriff and then a second goal in as many matches was enough to secure Tranmere their first win since November and an opening win for the year 2007.

Ronnie Moore made one enforced change to the side which drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest, as with both Gavin Ward and John Achterberg out injured, emergency loan keeper Joe Hart made his debut in goal. Chris McCready was passed fit to play.

For Rotherham, both Ian Sharps and Delroy Facey returned to play their old clubs, whilst Rovers trio Paul McLaren, John Mullin and Robbie Stockdale all faced their old mates.

The game started slowly, with the 6675 fans inside Prenton Park, 497 of them from Yorkshire, having little to get excited about in the opening few minutes.

The first chance fell to captain Shane Sherriff, who's deflected shot rattled the woodwork after The Millers failed to clear a Chris Shuker corner.

Richie Partridge then shot well wide of Joe Hart's far post for Rotherham from the edge of the penalty area, and this proved to be the last real attack for the next 15 minutes.

On 21-minutes, Rovers hit the bar as the game sprung back into life. Steve Davies' cross was deflected and appeared to be going out for a corner, but Chris Greenacre cleverly flicked the ball over advancing keeper Cutler. However, this shot just hit the cross bar and bounced out to safety for Rotherham.

Six minutes later, Rovers thought they had taken the lead. Chris Shuker ran on to a Gareth Taylor flick on and after rounding the keeper he netted from a tight angle. However, the goal was ruled out for offside.

No worries, one minute later Tranmere had taken the lead thanks to a fourth goal in a White shirt for Shane Sherriff. Rotherham again failed to clear a Chris Shuker corner, and after Steve Davies had had his shot blocked the ball fell to Sherriff.

The Australian, who must be delighted by his teams performance in the cricket, drilled his shot into the bottom left hand corner, leaving keeper Cutler with no chance.

Four minutes later, Tranmere could have had another as Chris Greenacre's header dropped agonisingly over the bar whilst John Mullin, breaking from midfield, sliced his shot well wide a few moments later.

On 43-minutes, Tranmere got that crucial second goal, thanks to another great header from Gareth Taylor, scoring his seventh goal for the club.

Paul McLaren hit another pin-point cross to Taylor, who's glancing header again left Cutler with no chance and found the bottom corner. It was the second time in two games that Rovers have scored a goal thanks to a Taylor header from a McLaren cross.

The second half started in the same fashion as the first had ended, with Chris Greenacre scuffing a golden opportunity thanks to good work from Shuker after good build up play also involving Mullin and McLaren.

On 50-minutes, Joe Hart, on-loan from Manchester City, finally made his first save in a Tranmere shirt, as he easily bent down to pick up from Martin Woods.

Seven minutes later, Hart was in the action again, as he pulled off a fine save from Rotherham's leading scorer Will Hoskins. The ball was curling towards the top left-hand corner, but Hart jumped to his left and pushed the ball away.

With 13-minutes left, Carl Tremarco replaced the tiring Steve Davies, the only substitution Rovers made in this match. Davies had run himself into the ground and appeared to be limping for the last three or four minutes that he played.

Out of no where, with just eight minutes left, former Rovers player Delroy Facey scored a bizarre goal to put his team back in the game.

Facey, with back to goal and just outside the penalty area on the right-hand side, flicked the ball up with his foot and hooked it over his head. The swirling wind caught the ball and it sailed over Hart and dropped in to the same left hand corner of the net as the other two goals had ended up.

Rotherham now began to bang on the door of the Tranmere defence. But despite numerous free-kicks and corners, they couldn't score.

The only chance they did have in the remaining minutes was when McCready smashed a clearance against Woods. The ball sailed towards the goal and was dipping in before the back-peddling Hart brilliantly tipped the ball over the bar.

After the signalled four minutes of injury time and more, referee Mr J. Moss finally blew the final whistle which was greated by a huge cheer from the Rovers faithful.

Ronnie Moore will no doubt be absolutely delighted with the points, his first win against Rotherham as a manager, whilst Rovers kept up their unbeaten record when striker Gareth Taylor has scored.

Jones' Man Of The Match: Despite brilliant performances by Stockdale and Taylor in defence and attack for Tranmere, none other than Paul McLaren wins the award for the fourth game running. The midfielder was once again instrumental for Tranmere, with some fine tackles and passes, which peaked with his inch perfect cross for Taylor's goal.