The Story So Far……………

 

By the end of 2004, promotion still looked a realistic prospect for Rovers but what would 2005 have in store for the Boys in White. 

 

Having played 24 matches, and notched up 45 points and a positive goal difference in the first half of the season, Rovers were certainly looking on course for an automatic promotion challenge if the second half of the season was to go as well as the first.

 

January

 

2005 began with a trip to Oldham Athletic where despite being in front twice through a Ryan Taylor penalty (37) and Iain Hume (52), Rovers were twice pegged back and the game ended in a 2-2 draw, Tranmere’s second draw at Boundary Park in the last two seasons.  Just two days later Rovers faced Torquay United at Prenton Park and after being on the end of Rovers first away win of the season back in September, Torquay fell again as Dadi (8), McAteer (66), Jones (77) and Hall again (90) secured Tranmere a much needed 4-1 win.

 

Tranmere appeared on Sky TV in their next game as Bristol City came to Prenton Park on a Monday night as Rovers looked to earn revenge for the 4-0 defeat at Ashton Gate back in November.  It did not go according to plan however as Rovers failed to score at home in the League for the first time this season and fell a 1-0 defeat.

 

Once again Rovers bounced back from defeat and did so in probably the best style of the season as they visited the Racecourse Ground to face troubled neighbours Wrexham.  First half strikes from Dagnall (21) and Hume (42) with assists by the same pair, set Rovers on the way by half-time and Gareth Roberts’ goal of the season (49) killed of the game as a contest.  Chris Armstrong scored a consolation for the Dragons before Whitmore (79) and Hall (81) made it a comfortable and more importantly unforgettable 5-1 away win for Rovers.

 

Next up at Prenton Park were Paul Merson’s Walsall who Rovers had beaten 2-0 at the Bescot Stadium only a month earlier.  It was to be six points out of six for Rovers against the Saddlers as Hume (8) and Dagnall (50) secured a 2-1 win.  The following Tuesday night saw Rovers travel to Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park for the second time in the month, this time for the LDV Vans semi-final.

 

It all began well for Rovers when Paul Hall (3) put them in front but just before half-time, the home side were level and the game ended up going to extra-time and when no further goals were scored it all went down to the dreaded penalties.  All the kicks were converted apart from the one taken by Tranmere’s regular penalty taker Ryan Taylor who had scored a penalty at the same ground only three weeks earlier.  The final score on penalties was 5-4 to Oldham and Tranmere’s LDV dreams were over for another year.

 

January was not over yet as far as games were concerned as Rovers travelled to leaders Luton Town at the end of the month.  For the second game running, Rovers went ahead early, this time through Dadi (5) but once again were pegged back for a 1-1 draw as Luton earned and converted a decidedly dubious penalty.

 

End of January = Position 3rd, Points 56, Scored 50, Conceded 37 (Goal Difference - +13)

 

 

February

 

So into February and just four games for Rovers during the month but sadly for the SuperWhite Army, Rovers continued their frustrating knack of going in front early on in games and then being pegged back.  The away game at Bradford City took that annoying statistic to three straight games as Iain Hume’s goal after just 45 seconds was cancelled out in the second half by Dean Windass for a third straight 1-1 draw.

 

Colchester United visited Prenton Park seven days later and it was the same story again as Eugene Dadi (8) put Rovers ahead early yet again only for Colchester to equalise for yes, you’ve guessed it a 1-1 draw.  Tranmere got out their recent drawing run by completing a season double over Huddersfield Town, winning 3-0 at Prenton Park thanks to Dadi (16), Hume (24) and Roberts (90).

 

The final game of a disappointing February was away at Bournemouth where Rovers led through Paul Hall (22) but yet again drew 1-1 as the home side equalised.  So four matches in February, three of them 1-1 draws should have put a dent in Tranmere’s automatic promotion hopes but with the top two and Hull in particular out of form at the same time, Rovers still had a chance of automatic promotion if they could win the first game of March, the one they we’re calling ‘The BIG One’.

 

End of February = Position 3rd, Points 62, Scored 56, Conceded 40 (Goal Difference - +16)

 

 

March

 

The Big One was third against second, Tranmere vs Hull City with a Hull victory almost certain to finish off Rovers automatic hopes but a win for Rovers would put them just a point behind the Tigers.  After a somewhat frantic start, Rovers got a free kick in the seventh minute that was converted beautifully by Taylor from around 30 yards to send Prenton Park wild.  However Rovers could not build on the lead they had gained and eventually fell 3-1 after a second half Hull blitz.

 

Rovers picked themselves up the following Saturday by winning 1-0 at Hartlepool United thanks to Chris Dagnall (53), the second time the youngster has scored the winner against Pools this season.  A second successive clean sheet came the following Friday when Rovers went goal mad against relegation threatened visitors Peterborough United.  Hall (16), Hume (29) and McAteer (45) gave Rovers a 3-0 half-time lead and the home side showed no mercy in the second period as Whitmore (60) and Hall again (80) gave Rovers a comfortable 5-0 win.

 

Tranmere’s two games in three days over the Easter period began away at Chesterfield.  Rovers fell behind but finally levelled through Mike Jackson (72) and when Dadi scored a second (86) it looked like Rovers had taken the points until a late equaliser from the Spireites in injury time made it 2-2 at the final whistle.

 

It got no better for Rovers on Easter Monday as Doncaster Rovers visited Prenton Park and partly thanks to a first half moment of stupidity from Eugene Dadi that saw him sent off, the visitors left with the three points.  Rovers found themselves 2-0 down after just five minutes but despite Dadi’s dismissal were level by half-time thanks to Dadi (11) and Hall (44).  However the missing man seemed to make a difference in the second half and Doncaster scored twice more to win 4-2, only Rovers, third home defeat of the season.

 

End of March = Position 3rd, Points 69, Scored 67, Conceded 49 (Goal Difference - +18)

 

 

April

 

At the start of April Rovers travelled to fourth placed Sheffield Wednesday and despite falling 1-0 behind in the first half, Jackson (42) and Hume (60) secured an excellent 2-1 win to ensure that Rovers remained the only team to have not lost two consecutive games in League One.  Wednesday had debutant Zigor Aranalde sent off in he second half for elbowing Jackson but Rovers in the end were worthy of the win as Theo Whitmore ran half the length of the pitch and squared for Hume to score with a cheeky backheel.

 

A 1-0 win at home to Stockport County the following Friday thanks to McAteer’s excellent header (66) sent Rover to Brentford’s Griffin Park full of confidence.  That confidence was shattered as Rovers crashed 1-0 to a second half strike that also meant Luton were promoted to the Coca-Cola Championship.

 

By this time Hull were also on the verge of promotion and Rovers main aim now seemed to focus on a third place finish and a better play-off draw in May.  They continued to stutter towards the finish line however as they had their first 0-0 draw of the season at home to Blackpool followed by a 2-1 defeat at another bogey ground of Swindon despite Ryan Taylor’s free-kick putting them in front (20).  Despite that defeat, other results that day ensured that Rovers secured a play-off place.

 

A 1-0 home win against Port Vale saw a great home debut from Carl Tremarco after Gareth Roberts was ruled out by a shoulder injury.  The winning goal coming from Paul Hall (40).

 

End of April = Position 3rd, Points 79, Scored 72, Conceded 53 (Goal Difference - +19)

 

 

May

 

Rovers only League game in May was away at Milton Keynes Dons who needed a win to stay in League One but with the play-offs in mind, Rovers played a somewhat weakened side and lost 2-1.  David Beresford (65) had excellently equalised Gareth Edd’s early opener for the Dons but with just four minutes remaining, Edds scored an almost identical goal to his first to keep the Dons in League One.

 

End of Season = Position 3rd, Points 79, Scored 73, Conceded 55 (Goal Difference - +18)

 

 

Play-Offs

 

Other results on that final day meant that Rovers would face Hartlepool United over two legs in the play-off semi-final, a team who they had twice beaten already this season.  The first leg would be at Hartlepool’s Victoria Ground.  It is fair to say that Rovers performance in that first leg was awful and ultimately cost them as they went down 2-0 thanks to a brace from Adam Boyd.

 

In the second leg just four days later, Prenton Park witnessed one of the most spirited Rovers performances for many years as they pulled the game level on aggregate thanks to a Ryan Taylor free-kick (70) and a great goal from substitute David Beresford.  The tie went to penalties and despite his miss in Rovers’ shoot-out at Oldham earlier in the season, Ryan Taylor went first and saw his kick saved.  This was soon cancelled out by an Achterberg save but in sudden death Ian Sharps had his penalty saved and Hartlepool went through.

 

So the season had ended in bitter disappointment and Rovers are left to try and do it all again next season in League One.

 

As the Match Report writer for Total Tranmere, I would like to thank all those who have read the site and its articles and help to keep it going.  Here’s to automatic promotion next season??

 

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