It's Goals Galore at Goody's Game
By Deadly Submarine
May 4 2015
The Tranmere Rovers Players XI beat the Ian Goodison International All-Stars XI 10-8 in an entertaining Testimonial Game for Ian Goodison.....
Despite all that had gone before, the organisers hoped it would be a great day to celebrate the career of a true Tranmere Rovers legend and that was exactly what unfolded at "Goody's Game" this afternoon at Prenton Park.
Prior to the game as the familiar (and no so familiar) faces arrived in the Main Car Park, fans were crowding around the arrivals taking selfies and getting autographs which cranked up the enthusiasm for the game before peopel had even entered Prenton Park.
The first person I came across in the car park was Eugene Dadi, who was mobbed by fans who had also spotted him and the interest in him was stretched to the extent that eventually he had to make his excuses in order to get into the ground in time to prepare for the game.
The next two arrivals I encountered were slightly more contraversial in the eyes of some Rovers fans as firstly Ryan Lowe and then Ronnie Moore arrived to play their part. The fans who greeted both Lowe and Moore outside though were nothing but congratulatory to both men as the good nature of the day continued.
Prior to kick-off, the players and Managers involved in the game formed a guard of honour for Goody who arrived to a huge ovation from the two occupied sides of Prenton Park. A quick word of thanks from Goody himself and a passionate speech from Captain Horace Burrell, President of the Jamaican Football Federation had been preceded by two presentations to the man known to many as 'Pepe', one from Burrell himself and one from Tranmere Chairman Mark Palios.
The Goody Guard of Honour
After all the formalities of presentations, speeches and applause, the game was ready to begin with Ian Goodison firstly lining up in central defence for the International XI alongside players includign Frank Sinclair, Ricardo Fuller and Fabrice Muamba who had the honour of kicking the game off and being allowed to play for five minutes before being substituted to an ovation.
The starting XI for the Tranmere side was Owain Fon Williams, Max Power, Ben Chorley, Ian Sharps, Gareth Roberts, Steven Jennings, Danny Harrison, Iain Hume, Kevin Ellison, Enoch Showumni and Ryan Lowe and they were of course managed by Ronnie Moore, with Brian Little in the opposing dugout for the International XI.
The views of the Rovers fans, particularly in the Cowshed Stand, soon became clear with the harsh booing of both Ryan Lowe and Kevin Ellison but it was Max Power, playing at right back for Tranmere who opened the socring when he ran into the penalty area, cut past Ian Goodison and scored off the inside of the far post giving John Achterberg no chance.
It wasn't long before Ricardo Fuller levelled for the Internationals, beating Fon Williams but Rovers went ahead again through Ryan Lowe who gave the fans at the Cowshed end some banter as part of his celebration. Two further goals for Tranmere gave them a comfortable lead midway through the first half as a great finish from Enoch Showumni and then a goal from Kevin Ellison on the rebound after a great Achterberg save put Tranmere 4-1 in front whilst young Rovers goalkeeper Sam Ramsbottom replaced Fon Williams midway through the half.
The goalscoring in the first half was far from over though as the International XI pulled it back to 4-2 before Ryan Lowe added his second to make it 5-2. Before the 45 minutes were up though, the Internationals had added a further three goals including Ricardo Fuller's second to make the half-time score 5-5!
Both sides made a number of changes for the second half with only Ramsbottom, Roberts and Ellison remaining on the pitch for Rovers, with the rest replaced by Adam McGurk, Lucas Akins, Andy Robinson, Alex Hay, Tyrone Loran, Chris Shuker, Jason Koumas and of course Ian Goodison who switched sides at half-time to play for Tranmere!
A Pre-Match Line-Up of All the Participants
After the goal-fest in the first half it took a while for the scoring to begin in the second half whilst Ian Goodison didn't spend long at the back in a Rovers shirt, moving upfront for the remainder of the game. It was Goodison in fact who set up the first goal of the second half, running onto to a wide ball and cutting back where eventualyl Alex Hay applied the finish to make it 6-5 to Rovers!
The best goal of the game so far followed next as Paul Hall curled in a brilliant effort for the Internationals to make to it 6-6 whilst Max Power re-entered the game part way through the half, but this time for the Internationals as they appeared to have run out of substitutes. Eugene Dadi also entered the game in the second half upfront for the Internationals.
The International XI took the lead for the first time with the next goal as Ricardo Fuller grabbed his hat-trick goal to make it 7-6 but shortly afterwards, Andy Robinson curled in a great goal for 7-7. What happened next was the highlight of the game as Ian Goodison ran into the penalty area and was deliberately hauled down, leaving Mike Dean no option but to award Tranmere a penalty.
In perhaps a pre-agreed situation, Goodison remained down 'injured', allowing Les Parry and his infamous shorts to run on to the pitch to 'treat him' to yet another huge cheer from the crowd. Goody was soon on his feet and Andy Robinson then pretended to take charge of the penalty himself and push Goody away from taking it. That of course was all in jest but what happened next added to the fun of the day. Goodison tried to chip the penalty (in Max Power style), Achterberg (deliberately?!) dived the wrong way, but the ball went agonisingly the wrong side of the post.
Mike Dean was having none of it though and ordered a re-take, supposedly due to encroachment by the other players and this time Goody made no mistake from the spot! Eugene Dadi scored to make it 8-8 before the goal of the game and arguably of the season at Prenton Park as Andy Robinson chipped John Achterberg from virtually the halfway line to give Tranmere a 9-8 lead - a lead they would never lose.
Fittingly, the last kick of the game went ot Ian Goodison himself as he broke clear at the Kop end, touched the ball past Achterberg and slotted it home to give Tranmere a 10-8 win! The end of the game was emotional for Goodison as he was lifted on the the shoulders of two International XI players and paraded to the Cowshed and Main Stand before fans began to leave as Goodison left the field.
All in all it was a fantastic day and a great end to a dismal season for Rovers. Goodison got the send off he deserved and the Rovers fans that were there got the great chance to say goodbye to a brilliant and loyal Rovers career!
The Johnny King Statue After the Game
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Enjoyed the game nice to see Goody play again on our pitch, should have been playing there all season perhaps if he had we might have got eight or more points and saved our bacon.
He might be the last player ever to have one of these games for Tranmere can not see other players getting in ten years again.
Thanks Ian for your loyal ten years of devotion to the shirt/badge of Tranmere Rovers not many players in these more modern times gave what you did to the cause of Tranmere Rovers and if you had been in our lineup over the past season you would have kicked some solidarity into the back four.
Birkenhead Soldier thanks again Ian
Sounds like a fun game with some great goals; shame the attendance numbers weren't considerably higher to say thank you to such a club stalwart.
Best wishes to Goody.
A great servant to the club, just a shame about the attendance, doubt we'll ever see another 10 year stint from a player!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:05:04:23:22:01 by mini_andy.