Rovers exited the LDV Vans Trophy on penalties for the second successive season at the hands of League Two side Carlisle United in game where neither side really deserved to lose but at the same time, neither of them did enough to win the game.

 

After the normal ninety minutes had ended goalless after Carlisle’s goalkeeper Westwood had been in top form to keep his side in the game, the following thirty minutes of extra-time provided little more in the way of action up until the almost inevitable penalty shoot-out.

 

What a penalty shoot-out it was as every outfield player from both sides, converted their spot kick leaving Rovers goalkeeper Steve Wilson as the disappointed man as his dreadful kick saw Rovers defeated 11-10.

 

Rovers Boss Brian Little, made a number of changes to the side that lost 4-1 at home to Brentford on Saturday in the league as injuries and unavailability limited the choice available to him.

 

On loan defender Simon Francis was cup-tied so he was replaced at right-back by Paul Linwood whilst an injury to Ian Goodison saw Gareth Roberts reverting to left-back and youngster Carl Tremarco playing on the left side of midfield. 

 

Veteran midfielder Mark Rankine was rested to the bench allowing Sam Aiston another chance on the right side of midfield with Steven Jennings moving to the centre alongside Danny Harrison.  The other change to the side saw Steve Davies start the match in place of the injured Calvin Zola.  Jason McAteer and Theo Whitmore returned to the subsititutes bench alongside Mark Rankine and youngsters Paul Brown and Phil Palethorpe.

 

Rovers began the game encouragingly and had an early chance when Steve Davies broke in to the visitors penalty area on the right hand side but his shot went into the side netting after good work by Aiston and Linwood.  Aiston and Tremarco looked extremely sharp in the opening half of the match with Aiston in particular causing concern for the Carlisle defence.

 

The visitors registered their first chance of the game after quarter of an hour but after running onto a forward ball, top scorer Karl Hawley miskicked allowing Rovers to clear the danger.  Wilson gathered well from an Aranalde shot a few minutes later whilst at the other end, Aiston cut inside and let fly with a shot that failed to curl enough to cause any real danger.

 

As Rovers increased their corner count figure constantly in the first half they failed to make the chances count as Westwood saved from Facey’s diving header and Aiston had a further chance to put the home side ahead.

 

On 36 minutes, disaster almost struck for Rovers as Wilson’s attempted kicked clearance cannoned off the back of Ian Sharps and fortunately trickled wide of the gaping goal.  Aiston continued to create chances for Rovers and had yet another of his own saved as the sides went in goalless at half-time.

 

Former Rovers defender and the Carlisle captain Kevin Gray was replaced at half-time as the game continued to be end to end in terms of chances but not particularly exciting in terms of entertainment.

 

Westwood in the Carlisle goal had to make four saves in the second half as the home side registered more shots on target than the visitors although Carlisle had many shots that went agonisingly wide of the target.  A cross from Delroy Facey looked to be harmless but it bounced off the top of the crossbar and away for a goalkick.

 

Paul Brown replaced Sam Aiston with ten minutes remaining for his first appearance of the season but there was no breakthrough for either side as the game went into extra-time.  Rovers grabbed the momentum in the first period of extra time but this soon swung in favour of the away side.

 

Theo Whitmore made his debut for the season on 111 minutes, replacing Carl Tremarco in left-midfield but it was the visitors who had the momentum and could have snatched the win when a header from Hawley struck Wilson’s right hand post and was cleared.  Steven Jennings was denied by Westwood and Theo Whitmore shot tamely at the keeper when he had more time as the game went to the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

 

What followed was a fantastic display of penalty taking that would have been fit to grace the Premiership with Steven Jennings’ kick the pick of the Tranmere goals. 

 

After Rovers’ ten outfield players had converted it left Steve Wilson to take a penalty with the score at 10-10 but he took one step for his run up and fired the ball horribly wide.  This left Simon Grand with the chance to win it for Carlisle which he did to leave Tranmere fans and players wondering what they have to do to win a penalty shoot-out.

 

Penalty Shoot-Out (Tranmere Took First):

 

1 - 0 Davies

1 - 1 Lumsdon            

2 - 1 Facey

2 - 2 Hawley

3 - 2 Jennings

3 - 3 Murphy

4 - 3 Roberts

4 - 4 Arnison

5 - 4 Brown

5 - 5 Aranalde

6 - 5 Harrison

6 - 6 Billy

7 - 6 Linwood

7 - 7 Westwood

8 - 7 Whitmore

8 - 8 Murray

9 - 8 Jackson

9 - 9 Hackney

10 - 9 Sharps

10 - 10 Nade

10 - 10 Wilson

10 - 11 Grand

 

Tranmere Man of the Match

 

Sam Aiston:  Aiston was never afraid to run at the United defence and caused them a number of problems during the game.  Both Aiston and Tremarco deserve credit from this game.

 

 

The Team Line-Ups

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Tranmere Rovers:  Wilson, Linwood, Jackson, Sharps, Roberts, Aiston (Brown 82), Jennings, Harrison, Tremarco (Whitmore 100), Davies, Facey.

           

Substitutes Not Used: Palethorpe, McAteer, Rankine.

          

Carlisle United:  Westwood, Arnison, Gray (Hackney 45), Grand, Murphy, McGill (Nade 103), Lumsdon, Billy, Aranalde, Holmes (Glenn Murray 77), Hawley.

Subsitutes Not Used: Williams, Adam Murray.

           

Booked: Aiston and Harrison (Tranmere)

 

Referee – Russell Booth (Nottinghamshire)

 

The Gaffer’s Verdict…

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Brian Little’s View of the Match (Speaking to the Official Website)…..

"It's not getting any easier. Halfway through the penalties it started getting pretty painful. We played reasonably well and had the better chances. We played more than well enough to win a game. Everybody around would like us to play better, but in our present predicament we're not going to wipe the floor with anybody.”

"We are all trying but it's not going for us. We're finding it very difficult to win a game. To say we were unlucky is wrong but anything can happen in a penalty shoot out.“

"Last year we lost two big penalty shoot outs. This time we were sticking them in but Willo had his worst kick for some years. He was the closest of the keepers to saving a penalty, he got his hand to three or four. Our penalties were struck really well. I was pleased for the likes of Paul Brown and Steve Davies, what an experience it was for them to take a penalty."

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