Tranmere's reserve side fell to a 2-1 defeat against Macclesfield Reserves tonight at Cammell Lairds' Kirklands Stadium despite taking the lead and playing well in the first half of the game but failing to perform to a similar level in the second half......
Tranmere Res 1 - 2 Macclesfield Res
Adam McGurk
Tranmere's Reserve team fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Macclesfield Reserves in the opening League game of the season at Cammell Laird's Kirklands Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Rovers deservedly took the lead in the first half through a superb long range strike by Adam McGurk but an equaliser before half-time inspired the visitors and the second half was a different story as Macclesfield went on to score again and win the game.
The Rovers side, managed by Coach David Lowe, was a mixture of youth team players and recent signings and trialists as follows....
Coughlin
Cathalina Benson Blanchard Bakayogo
Mackreth Power Fraughan (c)
Atkins McGurk Brown
Subs: Courtney, Gibbs, Vaulk, McNamara, Connor
Rovers began the game well with Adam McGurk in particular looking lively and Rovers defence was rarely troubled early on as Liam Benson always had time to pick up the ball and release it to a Rovers player.
Rovers had a goal disallowed midway through the first half as Max Blanchard flicked a header past the goalkeeper unmarked but was judged to be offside but that disappointment was overcome just a minute later with a superb opening goal for Rovers.
Picking up the ball around thirty yards from goal, Adam McGurk steadied himself before launching a blistering shot into the top corner of the Macclesfield goal giving the goalkeeper no chance.
However, although Rovers continued to dominate, the visitors levelled not long before the break to make it a 1-1 scoreline at half-time which was perhaps harsh on Rovers dominance in the first 45 minutes of the game.
The second half saw Rovers make no immediate changes to their team but it did see the visiting side improve their game to the extent that they were now dominating the play as the frontmen struggled to have the same affect as they had in the first half.
Max Power, Timothy Cathalina and Jack Mackreth made way for Jay Gibbs, Will Vaulks and Steve Connor during the course of the second half but either side of that there were some chances for Rovers including a miss for Connor shortly after coming on and a chance for Fraughan well saved by the goalkeeper.
Macclesfield took the lead through a decent strike as the number 11 turned Blanchard a couple of times and curled intothe bottom left corner past a stranded Andy Coughlin.
That goal proved to be the winner and on the whole a draw may have been the fairer result but Rovers could have taken their chances in the second half to put the game out of sight of the visitors.
Man of the Match was close between Adam McGurk and Maxime Blanchard but it's the Frenchman Blanchard who gets the nod.
felt mcgurk had a good game felt brom couldnt do it on the wing seemed to be closed out of the game after the first 20 minutes. felt there was a bit to much passing around there half and game we should have won
McGurk MOTM for me. Blanchard was solid and won lots of headers, but turned too easily for the goal. As for McGurk, I felt he hardly put a foot wrong. Goal was an absolute screamer, to bring it down with back to goal, turn and smash home from 30 yards was stunning, I doubt I'll see a better goal by a TRFC player all season. His first touch, awareness and close contract was superb. I'd get him tied down on a two year deal ASAP
I wouldnt offer him a two year deal what with his injury record we cant really afford to have players who are so injury prone, i would offer either 6 month deal or deal to end of the year though id like to see him at league level a bit first.
Interesting that only McGurk gets a mention in the above apart from Brown who disapeared.Going through the team
Cathalina was poor, Bakayogo was poor, Benson was ok I thought Blanchard looked good apart from the goal were he did get turned far to easily and then had a go at the young keeper! Power did ok, Fraughn was absent at one point hoofed the ball into the corner with nobody to receive it, Mackreth played in centre midfield dont know why with the two lesser players not achieving on the flanks, it looked as though he was moved into his more suitable possition towards the end of the game and straight away piut in two great crosses, and then was taken off !
McGurk did well, but brown and Atkins were extreemly poor, browns only contribution was to get in the way of McGurk from one of Mackreths crosses late on, and Atkins I think he must have left early as he did nothing all game
Brown and Atkins, Brown in particular, were very good first half, they just never showed the same spark in the second and neither did McGurk really.. I don't know if its to do with fitness though..
though Liam did well at the back tho on his own too much and not a good formation the 2 lads on the wing were poor, in the game a bit more first half but not much good ! Adam Mc was excellent tho showed he was tired second half so not fit enough for first team, Max Power did well and looked gutted to be takne off ! good to see as did Jack mc though Max B was excellent ! superb match, for their gaol he was caught on his own trying to cover for Zoom ! thought Fraughny too played some great balls thru for our attackers, good to see, have seen him do this so well in the past and most of the Goals Josh scored were from Ryans insightful passing
Even though Brown completely changed the game in our favour against Huddersfield? Despite being dragged down by the neck everytime he got into a decent position??
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment.
We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals.
We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards.
If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing
abuse@sportnetwork.net
