Total Tranmere FC Live the Dream at Prenton Park
By Deadly Submarine
May 20 2008
A Match Report from the Total Tranmere FC Squad game at Prenton Park last Saturday morning in which the two Teams, made up of Total Tranmere FC Players and their friends, played in front of a decent crowd and throughly made the most of a great day out!
Mike Jackson XI 5-3 Wayne Franks XI
Rich Jones 25 & 55 Dani Read 41 & 81
Nigel Cooper 53 Danny Watkins 70
Liam McMullen 65
Dave Brilley 75
Match Attendance: 50 (Approx)
Saturday morning saw the Total Tranmere Football Team take to the hallowed and somewhat worn out turf of Prenton Park for a squad game as TT Manager Mike Jackson led out his team against a team skippered by TT veteran Wayne Franks.
The choosing of the teams was random but was positional based and despite the efforts of Jackson to swap some players with his counterpart Franks in the week leading up to the game, Franks was having none of it and so the final 11-man squads were decided.
Playing in the White home shirts of Tranmere Rovers, with white shorts and white socks were Mike Jackson's XI whilst the Wayne Franks XI played in yellow shirts (with green flash), yellow shorts and green socks kindly loaned to them by Dee Tech United FC.
Most of the TT players arrived early, many of them in full suit and tie and took to the pitch to have a look around before getting changed and ready for a warm-up on the pitch as the spectators began to arrive and made their way to the Paddock.
After a warm-up that left Kyle Williams looking like he had already played 90 minutes in goal and then a photo call for both teams, the players returned to the changing rooms for some final words before being called by the referee into the tunnel for the big moment where they walked out onto the pitch.
The match referee John Rogan had managed to enlist the help of two young spectators to run the lines for the game in the shape of Mark Read and Alex Formstone.
Jackson XI Captain Pete Glavin won the toss and opted to shoot towards the Cowshed in the first half with the Franks XI kicking off the game as the big moment arrived.
Jackson XI lined up for the first half with Matt Jones in goal and a back four from right to left of Burrows, Nigel Cooper, Smith and Glavin. The midfield saw Brilley on the left, Cooper on the right and Williams and McMullen in the centre of the midfield. The strikeforce was led by Richard Jones and player-manager Jackson in a standard 4-4-2 formation.
The Franks XI set began the game playing a 4-1-3-2 formation with Barrowman in goal and a back four of Hughes, Salter, McKeown and Leslie. Player Manager Franks took up his position just in front of the back four and behind the midfield three of Read, Devlin and Veste whilst Formstone and Watkins started upfront.
The early part of the game was played largely away from the two penalty areas as both sides cancelled each other out well in what was becoming a midfield battle of wills. The whites of the Jackson XI had the better opportunities in the opening half an hour but a couple of shots wide was all they had to show for their efforts.
Around the half hour mark though and just as it seemed the breakthrough wouldn't come from either side, it was the Jackson XI that took the lead as space opened up for Richard Jones to fire home past Barrowman.
Kyle Williams almost doubled the lead shortly after when a superb cross from the left from Brilley was met by the head of the midfielder but he struck the crossbar and the ball was cleared before Jackson could follow up.
There were a few moments of controversy in the first half, in particular when Brilley threw the ball away in disgust when he disagreed with a decision by linesman Alex Formstone who gave a throw in against Brilley's team. This prompted boos and jeers from the crowd to add to the fun element of the day.
As half time approached, Franks XI were awarded a free kick out on the Borough Road touchline which allowed Salter to play a superb long ball into the heart of the penalty area as Jackson XI defended deep in their own penalty area.
Salter's free-kick was met well by Dani Read who looped his header over keeper Matt Jones and into the net despite Jones getting a hand to the ball.
What seemed like a long first half for a number of players finally came to an end shortly after the equalising goal and although it had been even in midfield for long periods, Jackson XI felt frustrated at having gone in level at the break after having the better of the chances.
HALF-TIME: MIKE JACKSON XI 1 - 1 WAYNE FRANKS XI
The second half began in the same tight way the first half had with Jackson XI goalkeeper Matt Jones now playing on the right wing and Kyle Williams moving between the posts which meant Chris Cooper was now the central midfield partner for the excellent Liam McMullen.
The Franks XI swapped Veste and Leslie around for the second half with the Italian, Veste, now playing left-back and Leslie playing on the left of midfield in what was now a 4-4-2 formation for them in the second period.
Liam McMullen fired wide for the home side and the Franks XI had a couple of half-chances of their own before the balance of the game tipped the way of the whites of the Jackson XI in the space of three second half minutes as they netted twice in quick succession.
Firstly from a set piece, a long range drive from the impressive Dave Brilley struck long-way advanced centre-back Nigel Cooper who deflected the ball into the goal leaving Barrowman helpless to prevent it.
Just three minutes later it was 3-1 to the Whites thanks to a goal worthy of any professional game. Picking up the ball around 25 yards from goal, Richard Jones curled a superb shot into the goal past Barrowman who was powerless to stop it.
The yellows continued to press and couple of chances went begging as Dani Read continually pulled the strings in midfield and Callum Salter kept control at the back.
Jackson shot over for his team and also badly miscued in front of goal after a great pass from Richard Jones whilst McMullen missed a chance too for the whites.
A somewhat harsh fourth goal followed for the whites midway through the second half as Liam McMullen beat two defenders before slotting home for a goal he has said he will remember for a long time.
The yellows weren't done there though and were soon back in the game when more excellent wing work from Dani Read set up Danny Watkins for a goal to make the score 4-2.
As the yellows pushed for further goals, the defence became a little more exposed and Jackson was harshly judged to be offside on a couple of occasions although the referee had a very difficult task to watch the offsides throughout the game.
The exposed back-line of Frank's team was hit again when Jackson robbed the ball from Hughes and advanced on goal. Faced with his fellow player-manager Wayne Franks in his way, Jackson unselfishly squared the ball to Dave Brilley who finished high into the net for a goal he thoroughly deserved to make it 5-2.
But the scoring still wasn't over there and once again it was the menace Dani Read who did the damage for Franks XI, again down the left wing as he netted his second goal of the day and deservedly so.
Some players called for a penalty in the dying minutes when Jackson was tackled by Veste in the area but Gino had clearly won the ball and Jackson was unable to keep his balance in a very slippy penalty area so no penalty was the right decision.
Richard Smith went down with cramp in the closing stages as the effects of a hard worked 90 minutes began to take its toll on several players and this was summed up when an injury to Jackson XI goalscoring hero Richard Jones three minutes saw him limp off as his hamstring gave way.
His side held on with ten men for the final three minutes to claim what was a deserved win in the end.
A fun penalty shoot-out followed with all players who wanted too, getting the chance to score at the Cowshed end of the Ground. Some excellent penalties were taken with Franks XI winning after barely missing any kicks.
Regardless of the result, everyone thoroughly enjoyed their time on the pitch where their heroes play week in week out and there can be no doubt that thoughts are already turning to this time next year and more of the same!
FULL-TIME: MIKE JACKSON XI 5 - 3 WAYNE FRANKS XI
TO VIEW SOME OF THE PICTURES FROM THE GAME CLICK HERE!
Mike Jackson XI | Wayne Franks XI | |
Matt Jones | Mike Barrowman | |
Mikey Burrows | Adam Hughes | |
Nigel Cooper | Callum Salter | |
Richard Smith | Stephen McKeown | |
Pete Glavin | Mike Leslie | |
David Brilley | Gino Veste | |
Liam McMullen | Dani Read | |
Kyle Williams | Wayne Franks | |
Chris Cooper | Mike Devlin | |
Mike Jackson | James Formstone | |
Richard Jones | Danny Watkins |
Match Officials
Referee - Mr John Rogan (Wirral)
Assistant Referee 1 - Mark Read (Wirral)
Assistant Referee 2 - Alex Formstone (Coventry)
Quote:That was on target that shot Mike, all of mine wereLiam McMullen fired wide
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Very good report though will have to print it off!