Tranmere Rovers  2 – 2  Gillingham

In their last home game against Bradford City, Rovers tried going behind twice in the game and then coming back to eventually draw 2-2.  This time they went ahead twice in the game but the outcome was still the same – a frustrating home draw for the third time this season at the ex-fortress Prenton Park.

Chris Greenacre was again on the scoresheet for his sixth goal of the season as he added to Michael Jackson’s first half header but Darren Byfield was not to be denied his say as he scored a set piece in either half for an the over-physical visitors to secure the draw they probably just about deserved.

Brian Little made one change to the side that was defeated at Southend United last Saturday with Mark Rankine beginning in midfield in place of Jason McAteer who picked up an injury in the game at Roots Hall and missed half of the weeks training sessions.  McAteer had to settle for a place on the bench as did Carl Tremarco as Nicky Summerbee once again started on the right wing with Aiston on the left.

Gillingham began the game the better of the two sides with some early chances but were dealt an early blow when they lost striker Paul Shields to injury after just nine minutes of the game. 

Things got worse for the Gills just a minute later as Rovers took the lead somewhat against the run of the early play.  Delroy Facey chased down a ball forward on the right hand side and was felled for a free-kick to Rovers.  Gareth Roberts played a high ball into the Gills penalty area and as the defence seemed to stand still, Michael Jackson rose highest to flick home a header to give Rovers an early boost.

Just a few minutes later, the Gills goalkeeper Jason Brown was lucky not to be sent off in a bizarre incident where he inexplicably picked up the ball outside the area and then failed to give the ball back and threw it away before being booked by the referee.

The lead lasted just six minutes however as hero turned to villain when Jackson felled Darren Byfield about 25 yards from goal.  After a short delay whilst the referee moved Rovers defensive wall back the full ten yards, Darren Byfield struck a free-kick past the static defence as Achterberg stayed rooted to the spot to put Gillingham back in the game.

Achterberg prevented Rovers from going behind on 20 minutes with a fine reaction save from Byfield before Rovers lost Danny Harrison to an injury after just 23 minutes and he was replaced by Jason McAteer who took the captain’s armband from Jackson.  Darren Byfield was given a free-kick in a similar position to the his earlier goal and this time he struck the crossbar as Rovers defence continued to look shaky.

Rovers got the perfect start to the second half as Sam Aiston’s run to the byline on the left hand side saw his cross partially cleared and allowed Chris Greenacre to hook the ball home from half a dozen yards for his sixth goal of the season.

With Rovers seemingly only needing to keep playing the way they were to hang on to their lead, the defence was suddenly left in a state of total confusion and panic that resulted in Ian Goodison clumsily bringing down Darren Byfield in the penalty area just as he looked set to shoot.

Goodison was lucky to not even get a booking and for the second time in the game, Darren Byfield picked himself up and despatched the ball into the net past Achterberg this time from the penalty spot.

There was time for both Byfield and Jackson to hit the woodwork at either end, Byfield from another free-kick and Jackson from an excellent header.

So for the third time this season, it finished 2-2 at Prenton Park and as the home side were booed off by some fans in the Kop, the reality is beginning to dawn with the Rovers fans that this season will be far from straight forward.  A 2-2 home draw was not the result Brian Little would have wanted ahead of too extremely difficult away games this week at Huddersfield and Nottingham Forest.

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