Rovers Fans Made Proud Despite Scunny Draw
By Deadly Submarine
May 4 2009
A goal from Craig Curran wasn't enough for Rovers as a late Scunthorpe goal earned them a play-off place at Tranmere's expense after Gareth Edds had been sent off for a harsh looking second yellow card.
Scunthorpe Utd 1 - 1 Tranmere Rovers
Curran 39 Byrne 88
Attendance - 8,029
Tranmere we two minutes from the play offs when it was snatched away in devastating fashion. Craig Curran had sent the 1,600 fans into dreamland but Gareth Edds was dismissed late on and Scunthorpe levelled immediately to pip Rovers to 6th place by just two points.
Rovers named an unchanged team to the one that earned a crucial point against Yeovil. So the starting XI looked like this...
Coyne
Edds Shotton Chorley Taylor
Sonko Kay Jennings Barnett
Curran Moore
So It was a winner takes all clash at Glanford Park with Scunthorpe only needing a draw to cement their play off place, but a Rovers win would see them pip the home side to it.
Rovers sold out their allocation of 1,600 tickets and unsurprisingly they were superb before, during and after the game and are a credit to the club.
When the players emerged from the tunnel after the usual hand shaking the Rovers players huddled together for a last minute rally much to the excitement of the away end.
Rovers started lively and had the first goal attempt as Ian Moore headed straight at Lillis. Then a Charlie Barnett corner was headed over by Antony Kay.
Scunthorpe 's first goal attempt came on 11 minutes as Mirfin headed over from a corner whilst at the other end Moore shot over from an Andy Taylor cross.
Hayes then shot wide for the hosts but Rovers continued to dominate. Ian Moore then crossed for Craig Curran to loop a header goalwards, but it was kept out by Lillis.
The two combined again five minutes later in devastating fashion as Edds found Moore down the right and he did well to put an inch perfect cross to the back post were Craig Curran nodded in from a yard out.
The away stand at the other end of the park exploded at that point as the ecstatic Rovers fans went mental and the players celebrated with Ronnie Moore.
Hooper then shot wide for Scunthorpe but Rovers nearly doubled the lead moments later. Moore again worked well down the right to cross for Steve Jennings, whose bicycle kick from 16 yards was spectacularly kept out by Lillis.
Half Time: Scunthorpe Utd 0 - 1 Tranmere Rovers
The second half started with a fiery tempo as a number of players had to calmed down by the referee. On 56 minutes Scunthorpe had a clear opening when Woolfards cross was headed over by Hooper from six yards before Hayes then curled over from 20 yards.
Rovers were defending heroically as Shotton threw his body on the line to keep out Hayes as the rest of the defence did superbly too. Woolfard then shot wide and McCann hit a free kick over.
Aaron Cresswell came on for Rovers to replace Barnett at left midfield and Hooper then missed a guilt edge chance for the hosts as he blazed over the stand from yards out.
Pearce had a shot deflect just wide off Ben Chorley before controversy then hit when Edds clashed with Woolfard with three minutes left and after being already booked Edds was sent off for a clumsy and unnecessary challenge.
From the resulting free kick Scunthorpe levelled as Cliff Byrne powered a header in despite a touch from Coyne and this was hard for the Rovers fans to take with the goal coming so late. After the goal, Ash Taylor came on for his Rovers debut replacing skipper Antony Kay.
Scunthorpe then counter attacked from a Rovers corner and Hooper's shot was cleared off the line by Sonko. Rovers tried desperately for a winner but the chance never came and after putting in so much effort Rovers had finally been killed off.
After a long season which contained doubt from many Tranmere fans, Ronnie has performed miracles to take us so close to success. On such a low budget for us to be two minutes away from an extended season with the likes of the rich MK Dons and Leeds is unbelievable.
Throughout this season the players always gave 110% and deserved a trip to Wembley, but it wasn't to be and we'll come again in August.
Half Time: Scunthorpe Utd 1 - 1 Tranmere Rovers
Steven Jennings
Not for the first time recently I've given him the award but I think he was the driving force on Saturday. He battled hard and built attacks, he wore his heart on his sleeve and was clearly devastated at full time, and this meant so much to him. We all hope he re-signs but if he doesn't him sure we'll all wish him the best of luck!
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Every ball is a white ball............TRFC
i think moore was brillaint on saturday and he would have been my motm
thing was, they all gave 110% effort which you can't fault..
HOWEVER none of them in the second half played football and thats why we lost. they were terrible though still running their hearts out if ya get me. Had they slowed down a little and used their head and tried to play a bit of football we'd be in the play offs now
thinky Taylor was ok but not brilliant.. that time when he broke and lost the ball on the half way line, most our fans cried for a free kick, but i personally think his control let him down he run into trouble and got out muscled.
but all players certain gave their all. our problem was quality not effort.