By A. Higgins
April 6 2014
Rovers record their first win in three games after a convincing second half display ensured a 2-1 victory at the Weston Homes Community Stadium against Colchester United...
Many supporters and staff connected to the club were left disenchanted when it was decided by referee, Andy Davies that both of Tranmere's home and away kits clashed with Colchester's home kit prior to the game; this meant that that Rovers were made to play in an alternative Colchester strip for the match.
Rovers now playing in a full gold strip had a shaky start to the first half with U's striker, Jabo Ibehre proving to be a handful to the Tranmere defence and nearly opened the scoring when Freddie Sears' through pass saw the former MK Dons man go 1 on 1 with Owain Fon Williams who made a smart stop to deny him his 9th goal of the season. Fon Williams was called into action again on the 14th minute mark when Alex Gilby's superb volley produced an even better one handed save from the Welshman. Despite a drab half an hour in the eyes of a Rovers fan, it was they who broke the deadlock when Max Power received the ball from a goalmouth scramble and played the ball into Jean Louis Akpa Akpro who cooly finished by putting the ball through the keeper's legs to make it 1-0. Rovers held on for the rest of the half but were outdone just before half time when Ryan Dickson pulled the ball back to Freddie Sears who slotted the ball into the bottom corner to make it 1-1.
(Above, Ryan Lowe donning Colchester's away strip celebrates Tranmere's vital win.)
If the second half was anything to go by, Rovers were by far the better side and that reflected in the scoreline on the 63rd minute when man of the match, Akpa Akpro ran past Massey and saw his blocked shot fall to Ryan Lowe who took his goal tally to 20 for the season. Rovers nearly made it three 14 minutes later when Jake Cassidy found himself between the keeper and a defender, however his shot was blocked an the score remained 2-1. Despite a valiant performance in the second half, Colcheste did apply pressure to Rovers in the dying stages of the game and nearly found an equaliser for the second time when Jabo Ibehre once again demonstrated his skill to get past two players and play the ball to Drey Wright who's shot beat Fon Williams but produced a heroic block from Matthew Pennington who in the end, saved the game for Rovers.
MOTM: Jean Louis Akpa Akpro
Match Rating: 4/5
Half time: Colchester United 1-1 Tranmere Rovers
Full Time: Colchester United 1-2 Tranmere Rovers
Goal scorers: Colcherster- Freddie Sears ('45) Tranmere- Jean Louis Akpa Akpro ('36), Ryan Lowe ('63)
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