Facey Sees Rovers Safe in Frantic Finale
By Deadly Submarine
May 3 2006
After a relatively dull game watched in a party atmosphere in the visiting supporters section, a dramatic finale saw Rovers secured three points that secured safety from relegation at the National Hockey Stadium leaving MK Dons needing a win and a failure to win by Hartlepool to remain in League 1.
TOTAL TRANMERE – Match Report
By Deadly Submarine
How do you begin a report on a game like this? For many weeks now the writing of a match report about Tranmere’s games has been a chore and not an enjoyable task but after this visit to Milton Keynes, suddenly there is match to enjoy looking back on after Rovers triumphed at the National Hockey Stadium and secured their League One status for next season in dramatic fashion.
The game was goalless with around ninety seconds of normal time remaining when a Jason McAteer free-kick was flicked into the Dons net by Dons defender for an own goal. Just seconds later the Dons were level through a stunning goal by Izale McLeod but Rovers had the last laugh with a Delroy Facey goal that sparked celebrations not seen from Rovers fans since Wembley 2000.
Brian Little made four changes to the side beaten 3-0 by Bristol City at Prenton Park last week with Steve Wilson returning between the posts after Wolves recalled Matt Murray due to an injury crisis. Carl Tremarco was a late addition to the starting eleven after Ian Goodison picked up an injury in the warm-up.
The return of captain Mike Jackson who from a three match suspension saw Steve Davies move down to the substitutes bench along with Phil Palethorpe, David Raven and youngsters Mike Jones and Ollie James.
Perhaps the surprise of the day in terms of team selection was the inclusion of Paul Linwood at right back at the expense of David Raven as Rovers started with a 4-4-2 formation as they looked to secure their League One status.
The game started off in a pretty even manner with Rovers and the Dons registering their fair share of chances. Danny Harrison had the first chance of the game but scuffed his shot wide and then fired over the crossbar just a few minutes later. Mike Jackson headed just over from a Jason McAteer corner whilst Wilson saved well from Gary Smith at the other end.
The 700 or so Tranmere fans one end of the ground were in good voice and getting behind the team. Picking on a steward whose sunglasses made him look like Elton John and also verbally attacking a David Beckham look-alike in amongst the MK Dons fans, made for a relaxed atmosphere in the home end.
Paul Linwood was on hand to deflect a Wilbraham shot wide but the defender seemed to be a bit shaky on his return to the first team. The game was evenly balanced with the Dons perhaps having the better of the chances if not the possession.
The 0-0 score-line at half-time was probably a fair reflection on the opening 45 minutes and with other results coming through, as it stood at half-time, Rovers were safe from the drop.
With Rovers shooting towards their own fans in the second half, hopes were high that a breakthrough could be made and Chris Greenacre headed just wide of the goal after a cross from Paul Linwood early in the half.
Prior to that at the other end, Smith almost scored for the Dons with a ball into the area that had started off as a cross but was missed by everybody and sailed just wide of Wilson’s left hand post.
Just seven minutes into the half, Dons boss Danny Wilson made a double substitution, bringing on Izale McLeod and Wade Small for Morais and Wilbraham as they looked for McLeod to give them more of an attacking impetus.
McAteer was looking outstanding in midfield for Rovers as they tried to attack and Tremarco and Roberts were working well together down the left hand side. McAteer was chasing the ball down like a player younger than his 34 years and Chris Greenacre was also working hard but with little to show for it.
Greenacre and McAteer combined well in the 55th minute but the cross failed to reach Delroy Facey. Just ten minutes after that chance, Tranmere came the closest out of both sides to scoring when a Jason McAteer free-kick from 25 yards struck the crossbar and went over Matt Baker’s goal after Chris Greenacre had been fouled.
Another chance fell to Greenacre on 72 minutes but he headed straight at Baker after Ian Sharps had flicked on a cross from Jason McAteer. In the 75th minute, former Rovers player Scott Taylor came on as a substitute for the Dons and the fears in the away were that he was going to inflict misery upon us.
With results still going their way elsewhere, Rovers just needed a draw at worst to be safe from the drop but when McLeod volleyed wide in the 77th minute, it was a reminder to Tranmere that holding out for a draw was not going to be that easy.
But with just ninety seconds of normal time remaining, a foul on Carl Tremarco on the edge of the Dons penalty area saw another free-kick from Jason McAteer which flicked backwards off the head of Dons player David Partridge and over Matt Baker for an own goal that sent the Rovers fans wild sparking a small pitch invasion from jubilant Rovers fans.
Just when Rovers thought they had got three points they needed to be sure of staying up, the ball fell nicely for Izale McLeod just twelve yards from goal and his excellent overhead kick looped into the goal giving Wilson no chance of saving it.
As it stood with other results, a 1-1 draw was enough for Rovers to stay up but the late goal-scoring drama didn’t end there as shortly after McLeod’s leveller, Delroy Facey found himself unmarked with the with the ball at his feet just six yards from goal. As the ground held it’s breath, Facey turned and shot past Baker into the net to spark yet more wild celebrations and a second pitch invasion from Rovers fans.
As the final whistle came, some more fans spilled onto the pitch as dejected Dons fans, including the Beckham look-alike left the Stadium knowing they face a mountain of a task to remain in League One.
For Rovers, after a second season in succession of almost trying to get of League One (this time at the wrong end), they will once again be in English Football’s third tier. The Rovers came down to the away end and applauded the fans with their delight at staying up clear to see.