Gornell on Target as Rovers Lose to Preston
By Deadly Submarine
July 18 2009
Terry Gornell was on target for Tranmere but Preston took their chances to win the pre-season friendly game at Prenton Park 2-1 in John Barnes’s first home game in charge since taking over from Ronnie Moore as Manager.
Tranmere R 1 - 2 Preston NE
Gornell 31 Parkin 20 and 51
Championship side Preston North End proved too much for John Barnes's Rovers team at Prenton Park this afternoon but the Manager will surely be pleased with the work rate and effort of his side as well as the style of football on display at times as Terry Gornell got on the scoresheet for Rovers in between goals from the visitors either side of half-time.
After having a split squad for the friendly games at Cammell Laird and Heswall last Tuesday night, the squad came together as one for this game with the only absentees being Ian Goodison who is still in Jamaica and Bas Savage who is out injured until September.
The starting line-up was as follows.....
Collister
Abbey Ash Taylor Edds Cresswell
Shuker McLaren Welsh Mahon
Moore (capt) Gornell
Substitutes:
Coughlin (GK), Barnett, Curran, McAughley, Fraughan, Riley, Allott
Rovers attacked the empty Cowshed end of the Stadium in the first half of the game due to the visiting North End fans being housed in the Johnny King Stand for this game and it was the home side who had the better of the opening fifteen minutes with Mahon, Shuker and Cresswell all testing Preston keeper Lonergan and his defence with a string of chances.
It wasn't all one sided though as youth team goalkeeper Joe Collister and makeshift centre-back Gareth Edds were called into action to keep Alan Irvine's Preston side at bay in the opening exchanges.
Paul McLaren looked in control in midfield whilst a different Chris Shuker from last season was sharp, quick and seemingly not afraid to take on the opposition defence when the opportunity arose.
However, somewhat against the run of play it was the visitors that took the lead in the 20th minute when former Crewe player Billy Jones set up Jon Parkin who finished well to make it 1-0 giving young Collister very little chance of saving the shot.
Terry Gornell was on Target for Rovers
Rovers failed to lie down after the goal though and with both Mahon and Shuker looking lively it seemed that Rovers best chance of getting an equaliser would come from one of those players and eventually in the 31st minute that proved to be the case when Alan Mahon broke down the left wing and whipped in a perfect cross for Terry Gornell who hit his shot into the ground and into the net in some style to equalise for Rovers.
The goal for Rovers seemed to spark the visitors to life though and between then and the end of the first half it was Rovers stopper Joe Collister who seemed to be the busiest Rovers player on the field making three great saves withthe last one on the stroke of half-time the best as he saved low to his left to tip a shot around the post ensuring the sides went in level at half-time.
HALF-TIME: TRANMERE ROVERS 1 - 1 PRESTON NORTH END
No changes for either side were made at half-time and it took just six minutes for Preston to take the lead again for a second time with Jon Parkin once again on the scoresheet for the visitors when Rovers defence seemed to fall asleep.
Seven minutes after going behind, the substitutions began for Rovers with striker Craig Curran and trialist Chris Riley replacing goalscorer Terry Gornell and Gareth Edds respectively as Rovers came back into the game a little with Ian Moore working hard upfront.
On 70 minutes, John Barnes made three more changes with Fraughan, Barnett and Allott replacing Welsh, Mahon and Shuker and just ten minutes after coming on Ryan Fraughan could have equalised for Rovers but his shot went wide.
Josn Macaughley replaced captain Ian Moore with five minutes to go and Craig Curran had two chances to score before Ash Taylor brought down Neil Mellor in the penalty area for what looked like a penalty at the time.
However, Joe Collister capped his Man of the Match display with a low penalty save and kept the score at 2-1 giving Rovers hope of a last minute equaliser which sadly never materialised as Preston took the plaudits in this 2-1 win.
Rovers performed well in this game with George Abbey looking much improved at right-back and later centre-back after his performance at Lairds earlier in the week and with surely some players still to add to the squad the signs early on are promising.
HALF-TIME: TRANMERE ROVERS 1 - 2 PRESTON NORTH END
Joe Collister - The young keeper had an excellent game capped with a fine penalty save late on and was later seen emerging from the Main Reception with two deserved bottles of champagne having obviously been given Man of the Match Awards from elsewhere as well as this site.
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ash taylor was good at the back, and i wouldnt have a problem with him starting the season there
george looked better today than at lairds, was decent at right back, wasnt brilliant when he moved to centre back though
welsh looks good, but could end up seeing red a few times this season, very tough in the tackle
gornell took his goal well
spoke to ash taylor after the match, he said he won the ball for the peno, and some of the preston players came up to him telling him to keep his head up as he won the ball and peno was a bit unfair
Also I thought the goalie had a blinder and even though he played well i still think we need to be getting a experienced keeper with him as a possible sub.(maybe mark crossly or I've heard rumors of Tony Warner)
IMO mclaren was awful even though he played a few good passes a lot of them went to the other team or were pointless and i don't think mahon did too much.
IMO number 5 was immense winning most headers against a monster strike force and would have no worries with him in heart of our defense and can some one tell me were goodison was plz, was he playing for Jamaica?
overall i think we played well and it was a worthwhile friendly.
Taylor looks like he can cut it at this level as a CB, but we still need 2 new CBs and have no cover in the FB positions.
Welsh's tackling in the first half hour gave us the edge, Moore led well from the front, and Gornell looks to have everything it takes to make it, provided nobody tries to pinch him off us in the meantime.
In fact, it was a good work-out with everybody putting in a good shift, except for Riley who's blue boots make him look even more prone - looked very shakey after he came on.
Shuker did well, but lost his spark completely after picking up a knock.
Too bad there weren't so many people there to enjoy Collister's performance - if he sleeps hanging from the ceiling every night and grows the extra 30cm he needs, we'll have a gem!
Mahon and Barnett will get plenty of good crosses in this season. But McClaren reminded me of Ryan Stiles, and not in a funny way... Fraughan and McCauley are still too lightweight. Allott did ok after coming on.
I think the future could be bright under Barnesy and Trig. He's been making all the right noises, but we'll have to be a bit patient this season I reckon.
Sorry for the mega-long post. Thought it might be useful for those who couldn't make the game (pity, 8 quid in's a bargain ;-).