Rovers Fall to Ten-Man Stevenage Amid Controversy

Mark Ridgway brings a brief summary of Tranmere's 2-1 away defeat at Stevenage on Saturday afternoon in NPower League One......

Tranmere’s catastrophic form continued on Saturday as they narrowly lost 2-1 at Stevenage meaning that Rovers have now gone eight games without a win after the latest set-back at Broadhall Way.

Goals from Chris Beardsley and Mark Roberts, both in slightly contraversial circumstances, inflicted the damage before an injury-time penalty from Joss Labadie which has done little to lift the gloom at Prenton Park.

The visitors had started well with Lucas Akins having an effort ruled out for offside before the same man headed into the side netting.

Paul Rachubka saved well from Chris Beardsley and Byron Harrison before Beardsley smashed the cross bar with a close range effort.

However it was just delaying the inevitable and Chris Beardsley fired home soon after to give the hosts the lead on 38 minutes although the passage of play that led to the goal came from a corner that was given by the linesman when it was quite clearly a goal kick in Rovers favour.

The second half began in uneventful fashion and the first goal attempt came from on 61 minutes when Shroot shot into the side netting for Stevenage.

Rovers then a decetn spell of possession and a few chances before Rachubka then saved from Aneke on 69 minutes and was then head butted by Ben May, who was in turn dismissed instantly.

Akins and Jose Baxter both misfired for Rovers but it was Stevenage who were to score again when Mark Roberts headed in from a Shroot free-kick after the home side had intitially failed to put the ball out of play with Ash Taylor down injured for some time.

The game was then over as a contest, even after Joss Labadie converted Rovers first league penalty since New Year’s Day awarded for a foul on Mark McChrystal but the points were staying in Stevenage.