Cup Dreams Over as Rovers Pay Penalty

Tranmere's dreams of further progress in this season's FA Cup were brought to an abrupt end at home to Cheltenham on Saturday thanks to a first half penalty which handed the League Two visitors a 1-0 win.........

Tranmere R 0 - 1 Cheltenham T

                                                                                          Darryl Duffy (pen) 21

Attendance: 3,211

Dreams of a cup run were dashed for the second time in a week when Cheltenham saw off Tranmere 1-0 at Prenton Park on Saturday afternoon to earn a second round home tie against Conference side Luton Town in two weeks time.

Hopes of a trip to Old Trafford or the Emirates in the third round will be put on ice for another season, after Les Parry’s men failed to rise to the occasion as Daryl Duffy’s first half penalty forced elimination.

Parry made three changes to the side that lost to Chesterfield just days before with Ian Goodison, David Raven and Andy Robinson replacing Mark Mcchrystal, Danny Holmes and Zoom Bakayogo as follows.....

Fon Williams

Raven  Goodison  Taylor  Buchanan

Akins  Welsh  Weir  Robinson  McGurk

Tiryaki

After a slow start to the cup tie the visitors threatened first when Russ Penn’s low drive was tipped around the post by Owain Fon Williams.

At the other end Robbie Weir volleyed wide for Rovers before Cheltenham were gifted the opportunity to take the lead as Lucas Akins was ajudged to have tripped Sido Jombati in the penalty area and Darryl Duffy smashed the spot kick into the top corner.

After the goal, Ash Taylor headed wide for Rovers from a McGurk delivery whilst Duffy tested Fon Williams at the other end.  The teams were almost level just before the break when Andy Robinson skipped through the Robins defence, only to fire wide.

Half-Time: Tranmere Rovers 0 - 1 Cheltenham Town

After the break Rovers improved and Robinson’s free kick tested Brown in the Cheltenham goal  whilst John Welsh shot wide before Fon Williams tipped over a looping header from Jeff Goulding.

In the final stages the closest Rovers came was substitute Martin Devaney’s curling effort which went just wide and so it ended in more frustration for Rovers, as the only aim for the season now comes in the shape of a push for promotion.

Full-Time: Tranmere Rovers 0 - 1 Cheltenham Town

Dave Buchanan

Whilst most let their performance drop, Buchanan played at his usual high standard and his clearance off the line could have proved crucial.