Tranmere Rovers 2-2 Northampton Town

Last updated : 29 September 2007 By Matthew Jones
Taylor and Shuker earn Rovers a draw
Tranmere Rovers left it late once again as they came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Northampton Town at Prenton Park in Coca-Cola League One.

Rovers started with the same side that drew 1-1 with Cheltenham Town last weekend, as Danny Coyne (groin) and Calvin Zola (hamstring) hadn't recovered from their respective injuries in time to play.

Tranmere started brightly as he looped a header towards goal which was saved easily by Bunn in the Northampton goal before the action came down the other end as Ben Chorley was forced to head clear a Northampton free-kick.

Taylor was doing well up front for Rovers, winning a number of headers as he set up Davies for one chance but the strikers touch let him down before the striker had a chance of his own, firing the ball towards goal from 25-yards but seeing Bunn make a good save as he beat the ball away despite some late swerve.

After just twelve minutes, the visitors took an early lead for the second season running at Prenton Park. Andy Holt flicked on a long ball towards Andy Kirk and the Scottish striker, who was given bags of time and space, looped the ball over Tranmere to give the Cobblers a 1-0 lead.

Rovers pushed to get back in the game, Greenacre having one effort blocked before Shuker had a effort cleared but on 17-minutes there was another worrying moment for Tranmere as youngster Steve Davies was stretchered off after he fell badly in an innocuous challenge and was replaced by Michael Jones.

Tranmere continued to press, with Shuker having what can be described as a "weak" penalty appeal whilst Paul McLaren shot wide from 20-yards.

The midfielder had another chance to level the game on 28-minutes as he jinxed past the Northampton defenders and into the box before hitting a shot which was deflected out a for a corner whilst Chris Greenacre completely miss hit a volley from 25-yards out soon after as he tried to guide the dipping ball into the goal but sent in closer to the corner flag down the Tranmere right.

With six minutes to go before the half-time interval, Tranmere were 2-0 down as a drive forward from defender Ian Goodison went horribly wrong.

The Tranmere captain collected the ball inside his own half but with no movement towards the ball, he carried it past the half-way line and past the centre circle before passing to Greenacre.

The Rovers striker lost the ball and with Goodison now completely out of position, Shane Sherriff had to cover two Northampton defenders. The ball was put out left to Jason Crowe who got to the goal line before floating a wonderful cross over John Achterberg to the back post where it was headed in by Poul Hubertz.

Despite being 2-0 down, Tranmere still had plenty of chances to get back in the game in the final six minutes of the half. First Stockdale had a shot block and Shuker curled wide before Jennings and Shuker then had shots blocked in the same move after some excellent build up also involving Gareth Taylor.

Their best chance of the match yet however came just before the half-time whistle. Shuker, who had been switched the the left following Davies' substitution drifted in side before squaring to Greenacre who somehow managed to shoot straight at the 'keeper when the rest of the goal was gaping from six-yards out.

After, what was pressumed to be a half-time rollicking from Ronnie Moore, Rovers came out and looked to at least get back in the game.

Taylor continued to cause havock for the Northampton defence as he forced Bunn into another save with a header from a Jennings cross and after the 'keeper spilt the ball, he appeared to pull Shuker down by his ankles as the Rovers winger went for the rebound.

Northampton's second goalscorer soon managed to get Ben Chorley booked as he went down with an apparent broken arm and two broken legs from the defenders tackle but was soon up and kicking the Rovers defender. Needless to say, the weak referee merely booked Chorley whilst Hubertz, now fully fit again, got off with nothing.

Rovers were unlucky not to get one back on 66-minutes as Mike Jones got the bye-line before cutting back inside and hitting a cross-shot across goal which was narrowly missed by Gareth Taylor who was sliding in and then just drifted wide of the post. The move did however leave Greenacre infuriated as the Tranmere number 10 had been unmarked and screaming for the ball just a few yards from goal and a much easier option for Jones.

However, three minutes later Tranmere were well and truely back in the game as Chris Shuker clawed the deficit back to one goal. Mike Jones picked the ball up on the left inside the penalty area and put the ball across goal where to eventually reached Shuker at the far post who brought the ball down with his first touch and then fired low into the far corner across Bunn.

Rovers now looked like a different team. Since Davies' injury, they had looked clueless and lacluster. There was no movement by any of the Rovers players whilst passing was often poor and slow. Now however the Tranmere side put in much more energy and looked desperate to get back in the game.

Ronnie Moore made a double substitution on 75 minutes as for the second game running, Anthony Kay and Craig Curran came on together, this time replacing Robbie Stockdale and the ineffective Steven Jennings as Rovers switched to a 3-4-3 formation.

Greenacre vollied wide for Rovers from another Taylor lay-off as it just didn't look like it would be the strikers, or Tranmere's, day, whilst at the other end Bradley somehow headed over from about three yards before John Achterberg made an absolutely superb stop at point blank range from Andy Kirk's volley which was travelling at a quick pace.

On 86-minutes, Rovers fans were left with heads in hands again as Craig Curran shot wide from a narrow angle, the striker latching on to a weak backpass and chipping over the 'keeper with his first touch when it would possibly have been better for him to take another touch.

Just two-minutes later it was all forgotten though as Gareth Taylor scored his first competative goal since January 19th as Tranmere levelled the game.

Shuker, who was now on the right, beat his man and after getting to the bye-line floated in another wonderful cross which was won by Taylor, rising high at the far post, who sent the ball back to where it had come from and into the corner of the net leaving the 'keeper with no chance.

Each side now looked for the win, Brett Johnson this time somehow heading wide for Northampton in the final minutes whilst Tranmere almost won in as Shane Sherriff smashed a 25-yard shot towards goal and saw the ball expertly tipped over the bar by Bunn.

Come full time and despite the result being a draw, the Tranmere fans clapped in appreciation and admiration as their team had once again come from behind to get a result in the game.

Despite a dire first half performance, Ronnie Moore had got his side to pull it round and get a point. However, Rovers need to win their home games if they are to ensure promotion and the Crewe game on Tuesday is now a match from which they must get three points.

Jones' Man Of The Match: Jennings, Stockdale and Greenacre were far from their best for Tranmere but Chorley was once again solid for Tranmere at the back. Man of the match however was comfortably striker Gareth Taylor as the striker won everything in the air and scored a brilliant goal, a performance he must repeat as he looks to win back the Tranmere fans.