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Reggae Boyz Save The Day!
By Quayle
January 16 2005
Lots of people have different opinions about this game. It was just one of them. Some found it nail-biting, some found it lively, some found it boring. However it wasn't a classic, but lots of positives come out of the game, even if it wasn't the performance.
Headlines were owned by our Reggae Boyz trio, Ian Goodison , Paul Hall and Theo Whitmore. THe trio have a strong relationship and that is being shown on the pitch. When I first heard that three Jamaicans were playing for Rovers, I remember thinking, what's that going to achieve. If you look at the Jamaican squad there best player is Jason Euell of Charlton. Ok a good player but doesn't compare at all with your world-class international strikers like Raul, Totti and Henry. Nowhere near. But these player we have gel so well and look really sharp and a breath of fresh air compared to your normal British strikers. They bring a different kind of skill, like our own Theo Whitmore, uses skill you've never seen before. The trio's international status is outstading. Paul Hall is now retired from internationals but had a great run in the team and bonded a great frinedship with Ian Goodison. Goodison himself has captained the side on numerous occasions, but of lae is finding it hard to get in the team, but with his current form I didn't see how he isn't making the starting 11. Theo Whitmore has, by far, the greatest international record out of the three. He now has now fewer than 120 caps, and is greatest moment in football, was when he scored two goals in the play-offs for France 1998, to get Jamaica into their first World Cup Finals. So back to the match. A very slow, scrappy half. And only a few chances falling for both sides. THe biggest chacnes was when Gareth Roberts found huge amountas of space. He flashed a shot across the goal, but unfortanately there were no white shirts to poke the ball into the back of the net. In comparison, the second half was much better than the boring stop-start first half. Again Rovers had vast amounts of possesion to know unveil. That was until the hour mark, when Hume found space and ran with the ball when he saw Hall screamiing for the ball, he was in acres of space. Hume played the ball across to Hall, who shot first time. Former Southampton 'keeper Bevan saved it but Hall was quickest to react and after a bit of dog fight, he placed the ball in the net. Suddenly the game had seen a new lease of life, on a Rovers point of view. But the game was further injected with excitement when skillful playmaker, Theo Whitmore, came on for the inspiratinal, Simon Haworth. THe second goal came when Hume, again, picked up the ball and knocked it down to Whitmore. But Whitmore was still faced with 3 defenders. So out came his skill. He was twisting and turning without ever losing control of the ball, until he miracously showed a clean heel to the Dons defenders. Bevan was left stranded and Whitmore cooly and calmly tucked away the win for Rovers. The crowd were hugely grateful, which Whitmore was thanked with huge roars of "Theo, Theo". Player Ratings- Achterberg 6, Taylor 6, Goodison 7(Brown 5), Jackson 7, Sharps 6, Hall 7, Roberts 8, Rankine 5, Harrison 6, Haworth 9(Whitmore 7), Hume 8 Man Of The Match- Simon Haworth played exceptionally considering it was only his second start since an injury which kept him out for a year and a half. He fully deserves the Total Tranmere Man Of The Match.

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