By Deadly Submarine
April 14 2007

Tranmere earned a 2-2 draw at Millwall on Saturday thanks to goals from Shane Sherriff and Calvin Zola in either half.

 

 

 

Attendance: 10,036

 

Match Referee: Pat Miller (Bedfordshire)

 

 

CLICK HERE FOR FULL MATCH STATISTICS AND TEAM LINE-UPS

 

At half-time on Saturday, things were looking good for Rovers as they lead 1-0 at The New Den whilst Blackpool, Yeovil, Swansea, Oldham and Nottingham Forest were all losing.

 

As we all know too well though, 45 minutes can be a long time in football and it was thanks to a Calvin Zola strike that Rovers came with anything at all after turning their 1-0 advantage into a 2-1 deficeit before fighting back through Zola.

 

Ronnie Moore made one change to the side that won 1-0 at home to Brighton on Monday with Kevin Ellison dropping to the bench and replaced by Gareth Taylor as Chris Greenacre moved into a wide midfield role supporting Taylor and Calvin Zola upfront.

 

After the home side endangered Gavin Ward’s goal twice in the opening eight minutes, it was Rovers who took the lead in the ninth minute.

 

A quick free-kick from Paul McLaren found Shane Sherriff at the far post and the Australian had time to chest the ball down and finish past Pidgeley to give Rovers a surprise lead in the game.

 

After taking lead Rovers almost doubled it through Paul McLaren whilst at the other end Ian Goodison and John Thompson had to be at their best to thwart the home side on at least two occasions with Marvin Williams having their best chance in that particular passage of play.

 

Chris Greenacre came close for Rovers after being set up by Gareth Taylor and at the other end, having cost Rovers a goal at Blackpool, Gavin Ward was at it again as he mis-kicked a clearance and presented a chance Alan Dunne who thankfully volleyed wide of the goal.

 

As the first half drew to a close, Rovers were lucky to go in ahead at the break as the defence allowed Hubertz a header on goal which luckily for Rovers was easily gathered by Ward.

 

So with Rovers 1-0 up as the break and Oldham, Forest, Yeovil, Blackpool and Swansea all losing, some Rovers fans may have dared to dream that the play-offs were still on.

 

Those fans were brought back down to earth within four minutes of the re-start as the home side drew level after a superb forward run by Ryan Smith saw him cut the ball back for Alan Dunne to fire home past Ward for the equaliser.

 

Greenacre had a chance to restore Rovers lead but it was the home side who scored in the 67^th minute and again it was Alan Dunne who did the damage firing past Ward to make it 2-1 to the home side.

 

However Rovers were not beaten and just two minutes later a surging run up the line from Robbie Stockdale saw the defender cross for Calvin Zola who equalised from twelve yards out to the delight of the travelling support.

 

The equaliser seemed to inspire Rovers and they dominated the latter stages of the game with both Harrison and Zola missing simple chances to score a winner with both of them missing a one-on-one with Pidgeley and instead firing wide.

 

Gareth Taylor was replaced by Steve Davies in the 76^th minute meaning that Chris Greenacre moved upfront alongside Calvin Zola.

 

Rovers seemed to have all the late pressure with Zola firing over and Harrison and Stockdale also missing chances as  Rovers could easily have stolen a win from the game.

 

As it was though, the score remained 2-2 and Rovers’ already faint play-off hopes faded even further into the distance.

 

Next up for Rovers is a home game against already promoted Scunthorpe United who will be looking to possibly secure the League One title should they win and Bristol City fail to do so.

  

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Ronnie Moore Gives His Verdict to Tranmere Rovers Official Site...

"Both teams had chances to win it.  A draw was no good to either team and both went for it.  We always felt somebody in the top six would slip up but we haven't been able to take full advantage because we missed our chances.”

"From 1-0 up we went 2-1 down and the defending wasn't good enough.  It's another occasion where we have to score three goals to win a game.  But we came back through Calvin Zola's goal and there were chances to win it.”

“Zola was in, Shuker was in, Stockdale was in and Harrison was in - they were brilliant chances.  I can't fault the lads for effort, they gave everything.  The players on both teams deserve a pat on the back for the effort because it was very hot out there today."