Chorley Off as Rovers are Beaten at Bescot
By Stephen McKeown
April 6 2008
Walsall 2 - 1 Tranmere R Attendance: 5,745 Match Referee: Carl Boyeson (Yorkshire)
Tranmere came out for the second half, and the first passage of play suggested that the team were going to take a draw. From kick off, Chris Greenacre gave the ball away and Rovers were under pressure from the off.
The Rovers fans behind the goal sensed a long 45 minutes was going to be in store. Walsall were in the ascendancy as they threw men forward in an effort to find that elusive second goal which they needed with their fans becoming frustrated at the chances that went begging.
Danny Coyne was needed once again as he saved Tommy Mooney’s glancing header and then a shot from Sonko which he did well to tip over the bar.
The numerical advantage on the pitch was beginning to tell as the Saddlers back four knocked it around with nice easy two touch football and spreading the play to the wingers were the full backs made the overlap to create many crossing opportunities.
This left the Tranmere strikers with a lot of hard running, and chasing down any ball pumped up front. Possession was at premium so when we did get hold of the ball it was vital the strikers held it up and waited for support.
It was turning into a sustained spell of attacks for Walsall and the crucial third goal of the game you could sense was coming.
It did come on 59 minutes when a high ball from Rhys Weston found its way to Tommy Mooney who made up for his penalty miss with a great knock down to the new substitute Ishmel Demontagnac who rifled it across Danny Coyne who had no chance and sent the home fans screaming.
The wind was in their sails and they looked to make the scoreline more emphatic with a few six yard box snap shots.
But for the ten men of Tranmere it seemed to galvanise the players and the search for that surprising equaliser. Despite having ten men, Rovers outplayed their counterparts in the last 20-25 minutes as Walsall were looking to hit the team on a counter attack.
Jennison Myrie–Williams was replaced on 61 minutes by Antony Kay to add some beef and power into the midfield with nothing to lose in the remaining thirty minutes. It did not help with the consistency of the referee though as it was six of one, half a dozen of another.
Kay was getting penalised for his aerial battle, simply getting a better leap than the defender but appeared to be fouling according to referee Boyeson.
Then when Calvin Zola replaced Chris Greenacre on 72 minutes he tried to affect the pattern of the game by using his strength and height to work around their back four and cause them numerous problems. The referee though blew up for ‘nothing fouls’ and the when it was being done to the opposition they were getting all the free kicks.
On the topic of free–kicks they were very poor today as McLaren usually finds a scintillating ball into the box it was either falling to short or glancing over everybody’s head.
Ronnie Moore changed to a 4-3-2 when replacing Myrie Williams with Jennings, McLaren and Kay combining as the three in midfield.
With Tranmere now piling men forward and Walsall living on a tight rope, the away fans thought we could have got something out of the game. They sung till their lungs dropped and it certainly helped the team.
The refereeing decisions didn’t go Rovers way most of the match and it was the same outcome on 69 minutes when Ian Goodison burst into the box after good build up play and appeared to be taken out inside the box as he was about to pull the ball back across goal.
Another chance seemed to be on offering when a delightful ball diagonally across Ian Roper looked like it had caught him out and Greenacre ran through and took it round Ince in goal who took him down. To the sarcastic amusement of our fans the linesman had already flagged for offside but it looked very close and a second replay of the decision was on everybody’s lips.
The best chance then fell to Ian Goodison with most all of us and the edge of our seats. Any other player bar Goodison am sure would have tucked it away, but unfortunately he put it wide. It probably would of burst the net had it gone in through the sheer power he got behind it.
The final throw of the dice saw Chris Shuker come on for Steve Jennings on 87 minutes but it failed to make a difference as Tranmere nearly fell sucker punch to a third but for a superb sliding challenge by the on rushing keeper Danny Coyne, as if Tommy Mooney had rounded him he would have had a clear effort on goal.
Rovers kept probing till the end but it was to no prevail as the 760 away fans went back up the M6 pointless after earlier in the day it had promised so much.
It has tightened the final playoff spot down to the wire now with Leeds taking the lead in the race after a 2-0 win at Leyton Orient.
The result is gone now, but Forest up next at home and with a good crowd and a wee bit of luck we can beat them and get back on track. So get behind the lads and believe we have what it takes to get in that top six.
FULL TIME: WALSALL 2 - 1 TRANMERE ROVERS
Link to Ronnie Moore's Post-Match Comments
Link to Walsall Match Stats and Information