By Deadly Submarine
April 1 2006

Goals from Ian Goodison and Chris Greenacre earn Rovers a deserved point from their long trip to Yeovil on Saturday. Rovers had to come from behind twice to earn the point and also had a goal harshly disallowed but in the end a draw was probably a fair result but one that will help neither team.

 

 

           

                 Harrold 5                                                    Goodison 39

                Harrold 69                                                  Greenacre 77

                                                                             

 

Attendance: 5,409 (208 Tranmere Fans)

 

 

As the Merseyside Derby was ending at Anfield on Saturday, around 225 miles away in Somerset, Rovers fans were preparing for their sides game against Yeovil but for many, it was more a case of trying to keep dry in Huish Parks’ roofless away end as the rain poured down prior to the start of the game.

 

The game turned out to be an entertaining affair as Rovers came from behind twice to earn a deserved point that made the long trip at least partly worthwhile.  Tranmere had a nightmare start to the game as they conceded after four minutes but after having what looked like a legal goal disallowed, they equalised before half-time through an Ian Goodison header. 

 

Rovers fell behind again when debutant keeper Matt Murray failed to hold a free-kick but a tap-in for Chris Greenacre eight minutes sealed a point for Rovers. 

 

Brian Little made three changes to the side that lost 2-1 at home to Walsall the previous Friday with Carl Tremarco and Sam Aiston making way for Steven Jennings and Ian Goodison as Rovers started the game with a 5-3-2 formation.  On loan Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray made his debut in place of the recalled Dino Seremet.

 

As the game kicked off, the rain that had been soaking the Rovers fans that had arrived early, eased off a little but it was still set to be a bad start to the game for the travelling Superwhite Army.  Matt Murray made a horrific start to life in a Rovers shirt as his pass to Ian Goodison who had a Yeovil player immediately behind him, saw the Jamaican caught out and Matt Harrold finished low to the goalkeepers left to give Yeovil an early lead.

 

Rovers had a couple of chances soon after through Calvin Zola and Chris Greenacre but both were easily dealt with by the Glovers defence.  It was the home side, buoyed by the early goal that had the better of the opening twenty minutes as Rovers midfield struggled as Jason McAteer failed to make an impact on the game.   Craig Rocastle and Aaron Davies had chances for Yeovil but Matt Murray was equal to their efforts as he made comfortable saves.

 

Rovers began to get back into the game as the first half wore on and the visiting fans began to think that they could get back into the game.  Steven Jennings in particular was working hard for Rovers and he thought he had got his reward on 37 minutes when he had the ball in the Glovers net.

 

A Gareth Roberts free-kick was flicked on by Calvin Zola and Steven Jennings prodded home from a tight angle at the far post but the celebrations from the Rovers fans behind the goal were short-lived as the referee’s assistant had flagged for offside against Jennings.

 

Two minutes later though, Rovers were definitely level from a corner.  Gareth Roberts crossed the ball in from the corner and as Ian Sharps flicked on, Ian Goodison was on hand to head home at the far post for his first goal of the season and only his second for the club.  The Rovers equaliser was the last action of the first half as the Rovers fans looked to seek fifteen minutes of shelter as the rain came again.

 

Rovers captain had a shot blocked in the opening minute of the first half as Rovers began the second half quite brightly.  The game had few chances in the opening twenty minutes of the second half and Rovers also replaced Calvin Zola with Delroy Facey around the hour mark.

 

Chris Cohen shot wide for Yeovil on 67 minutes but just two minutes later the home side were back in front and again Murray literally had a ‘hand’ in it.  Yeovil were awarded a free-kick right on the edge of the penalty area though it was unclear what it had been awarded for.  Whilst Rovers were unlucky that the free-kick had been awarded in the first place, they were fortunate that a penalty had not been given as the player who apparently been fouled, fell inside the area.

 

Despite Rovers placing an eight-man wall in the way of Matt Harrold as he stepped up to take the free-kick, it proved to be no barrier as the striker fired through the wall and whilst Matt Murray got down to the ball, he failed to stop it deflecting of his hand and into the goal for Harrold’s second of the season.

 

The home side broke again shortly after going ahead but Gareth Roberts cleared the danger for Rovers.  Just eight minutes after going behind though Rovers were again level when a Steven Jennings free-kick was flicked on by Ian Goodison which allowed Chris Greenacre to net his 18^th goal of the season although the Rovers fans at the opposite end of the ground only realised he’d scored when he wheeled away in celebration.

 

Danny Harrison replaced Jason McAteer on 79 minutes and just a minute later, Rovers were saved from going behind for a third time by a fantastic piece of defending by Steven Jennings.  Nathan Jones crossed into the area and found Paul Terry, brother of Chelsea and England defender John and his downward header looked a certain goal.  Jennings had other ideas though and hooked the ball upwards off the line and onto the bar before it was cleared to safety.

 

Yeovil looked the most likely to score in the final minutes of the game but Rovers held out for a deserved draw and are now five points from the relegation zone.  Next up for Rovers is a home game against Port Vale this Friday evening, Kick-Off 7.45pm.

 

 

Steven Jennings:  On his return to the first team, Jennings worked hard in midfield and was unlucky to have a goal disallowed in the first half.  Also saved a point for Rovers with an excellent goal-line clearance ten minutes from time.