Rovers Secure Vital Three Points at the Priestfield

Ian Thomas-Moore tapped in the winner away at Gillingham to move Rovers closer to safety and at the same time drag Gillingham right into the relegation scrap with Tranmere due to the fact that Rovers are now in the relegation on goal difference alone.

Rovers changed their formation back to the familiar 4-3-3 formation after Saturday's disappointing result at home to Oldham which Les Parry's men lost 1-0.

The injured Ian Goodison was replaced for this game by Chris McCready for his second Rovers  debut whilst Chris Shuker was dropped and Ash Taylor pushed into midfield allowing Marlon Broomes to slot in at centre back.

Loanee Marvin Sordell made his first start for Rovers replacing Terry Gornell. So the team looked like this...

Rovers started brightly at a bitterly cold Priestfield Stadium and Craig Curran shot over on six minutes before Ian Thomas-Moore then shot at the keeper from long range, and Rooney headed onto the top of the bar for Gillingham.

Rovers youngster Ash Taylor had to be replaced on 24 minutes due to injury with Gareth Edds coming on his place - a move which ultimately altered the face of the game and it's outcome.
 
The game soon became end to end with Daniels saving from Barcham and Sordell shooting wide for Rovers and Edds then tested the Gills keeper before Daniels did well to keep out Palmer's effort.
 
McCready set up Sordell to shoot over for Rovers, as the teams went in for half time, pretty even and goalless.
 

Half Time: Gillingham 0 - 0 Tranmere Rovers

 
Curran and Sordell both failed to test Julian in the opening exchanges of the second half and Gillingham also came close to scoring when Rooney set up Barcham to smash against the crossbar.
 
John Welsh hit the deck in the penalty area, but nothing was given and the same player blazed over from long range.
 
The impressive Gareth Edds then had two efforts saved by Julian, a right footed effort was kept out first before his header from McLaren's corner was well kept out again.
 
Rovers took the lead eventually with just over twenty minutes left when Craig Curran's effort was tipped onto the post by Julian and the striker forced the ball goal wards for Ian Thomas-Moore to tap in from close range as the players ran over the celebrate with the ecstatic travelling fans.
 
Palmer then shot wide for Gillingham before Gornell replaced Sordell for Rovers.
 
Oli and Gowling shot over for Gillingham late on but never tested Daniels goal, who kept a clean sheet without influencial skipper Ian Goodison infront of him.
 
The result meant Rovers were only outside the drop zone on goal difference ahead of another relegation battle at Southend on Saturday.

 
 Full Time: Oldham Athletic 0 - 1 Tranmere Rovers