By Deadly Submarine
March 17 2007

A first-half brace from Chris Greenacre and a late winner from Kevin Ellison sealed three much deserved points for Rovers at Vale Park after it looked like the visitors had again failed to take three points from being 2-0 in front. This time though Ellison had his say in the matter to seal the win.

 

 

 

Attendance: 4,809 (622 Tranmere Fans)

 

Match Referee: Danny McDermid (London)

 

 

CLICK HERE FOR FULL MATCH STATISTICS AND TEAM LINE-UPS

 

After once again blowing a 2-0 lead in a game, Rovers fans must have thought that this seemingly consistent jinx would never end this season but seven minutes from time step forward Kevin Ellison with a superb header that sealed a deserved three points for Tranmere at Vale Park.

 

Just like last season, Rovers went ahead early at Vale Park when Chris Greenacre headed his 17^th goal of the season after just three minutes before then adding his second from the penalty spot with just 35 minutes gone after Chris Shuker had been impeded.

 

Vale struck back just a minute later with an element of fluke as Vale’s Man of the Match Danny Sonner’s shot deflected past the stranded Gavin Ward to make it 2-1 at half time.

 

In the second half, Gavin Ward inexplicably came out of his area and ultimately gifted Leon Constantine an equaliser but Ellison had the last word right in front of the 600+ visiting fans as he headed in from Shuker’s cross to seal the win.

 

After last weeks debacle at home to Swansea, it was something of a surprise that Ronnie Moore decided to stick with the same starting eleven for this game but within minutes of the start it looked to be a good decision by the Manager as Rovers scored with their first real attack of note.

 

Chris Shuker got free down the right and whipped in a cross that was headed in by Chris Greenacre for his 17^th goal of the season.  Rovers continued their good start and could have doubled their lead almost immediately as Kevin Ellison ran through the heart of the home defence and unleashed a shot that goalkeeper Anyon failed to hold.

 

Chris Greenacre was the first to the rebound but his shot struck the outside of the left hand post although the flag had already gone up for offside as well.  Already Rovers were the dominant force and also hit the bar from a Gareth Taylor header during the first half.

 

Vale came into the game a little as the half wore on with Constantine and Kamara having chances at the other end.  However it was Rovers who scored the all important second goal and again it was created by Chris Shuker.

 

The winger was judged to have been tripped in the penalty area by Jason Talbot and Chris Greenacre despatched the spot-kick right down the centre of the goal for his second of the day and his 18^th of the season.

 

Just a minute later though Rovers two-goal lead became one again as Danny Sonner’s shot deflected past Gavin Ward in a crowded penalty area to make it 2-1 which it remained until the break.

 

Vale had the better of the opening part of the second half with Gavin Ward being forced into a couple of decent saves but at the other end Chris Shuker saw his free-kick deflect off the Vale wall and out for a corner.

 

Rovers’ defence held firm for a long period of the second half but on 73 minutes a mistake from Gavin Ward saw the home side grab an equaliser.  Ward ran out to the edge of his area before disastrously hesitating which allowed Vale to feed Leon Constantine who made no mistake from a few yards out.

 

Just as Rovers fans began to think that another 2-0 lead was not going to end with a win, their side took the lead once more in the 83^rd minute.  The ball had been worked across the pitch in the build-up before finding Chris Shuker whose excellent cross was met with a superb header into the top corner from Kevin Ellison to send the Rovers fans behind that goal wild with delight.

 

Vale put some pressure on Rovers in the closing stages but couldn’t find another way through and Rovers took the points and deservedly so.

 

With Doncaster, Oldham and Carlisle all dropping points, Rovers moved up to 7^th position in League One but a win for Blackpool sees them still in the driving seat in soxth place and with a game in hand on the other teams.

 

Next up for Rovers is the long trip to Bournemouth next Saturday and a repeat performance like today would do very nicely indeed.

 

LINK: POST MATCH COMMENTS REACTION

 

 

Kevin Ellison – There many contenders for the award today but the much improved Kevin Ellison impressed for Rovers today and scored the all-important winner with a superb header seven minutes from time.

 

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