Fantastic Performance Stuns Title Contenders
By Mark Ridgway
December 26 2007
Tranmere produced a fine performance to claim victory from the well supported Carlisle United side. Two spectacular goals from McLaren and Kay in the first half meant Rovers would end the game as the happier team and more importantly the deserved winners.
Tranmere R 2 - 0 Carlisle U
Attendance: 8,516
Match Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire)
CLICK HERE FOR MATCH STATS AND INFORMATION
There was a change of formation and team selection following the Luton defeat on Saturday. Antony Kay's return meant he played at centre back and Sherriff moved back to left midfield. Ahmed and Henry were dropped as the four man midfield retuned with McLaren back and Shuker moving back to right midfield. Zola started up front to replace the injured Gareth Taylor.
The day started badly for Rovers as after a few minutes Shuker went into a tackle with Keogh and came out badly, he continued a bit to see if he could run it off but had to be replaced by Myrie-Williams.
On 11 minutes the first chance at goal fell to Joe Garner when his header forced Coyne into a comfortable save. Myrie-Williams then beat two challenges and dragged a shot wide for Rovers before Kay then headed over from a McLaren free kick.
Then on 16 minutes Rovers took a deserved lead, Paul McLaren played his corner short and Myrie-Williams returned the pass so he could run onto it, he did and struck a venemous shot that was deflected off Raven and into the goal.
On 23 minutes class act Myrie-Williams nutmeged Aranalde and then produced a Maradona turn to almost create a chance.
With 37 minutes gone, McLaren blasted a free-kick which was well tipped over by Westwood.
It seemed two minutes later that it would be 2-0 when Greenacre's shot from the angle creeped underneath Westwood and hit the inside of the post and was cleared for a corner. From the corner Goodison then blazed over when he should have really done better.
Another McLaren free kick forced Westwood into making a spectacular save. A corner was given, which McLaren again took and found Antony Kay just inside the area, the centre back controlled in on his chest took it past the defender and released a thunder bolt into the top corner to make it 2-0.
Half Time - TRFC 2-0 CUFC
The visitors came out for the second half fired up and within five minutes Rovers survived 2 goalmouth scrambles and also McLaren cleared off the line.
On the hour mark it was nearly 3-0 when Zola's dipping volley bounced awkwardly for Westwood and he palmed the ball to safety just.
With twenty minutes left it really should have been 2-1 when Graham's header across goal wasn't connected with when two players ought to have scored and it went out for a goal kick.
Curran then replaced Zola, then on 80 minutes Coyne saved at the near post from Carlisle substitute Kevin Gall.
In injury time most of the ground thought Carlisle had pulled one back as Gall's header looped onto the post and the players sliding in couldn't connect and it stayed 2-0.
Andy Taylor
Taylor defended fearlessly and nobody got past him on the left. Also he was always happy to help out in attack and came and got into some good scoring positions. But there wasn't a bad player on the Rovers team and anyone could have been Man of the Match.