By Deadly Submarine
April 22 2007

Tranmere fell to yet another 2-0 home defeat, this time at the hands of newly promoted Scunthorpe Utd on Saturday thanks to a harsh own goal from Gavin Ward and yet another from the League’s top-scorer Billy Sharp.

 

 

 

Attendance: 6,721

 

Match Referee: Colin Webster (Tyne and Wear)

 

 

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This was a day of reflections on the season just ending for Rovers fans as the game itself ended in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the team who, bar a major goal difference disaster in the final two games of the season, will end their season as the worthy Champions of League One.

 

As newly promoted Scunthorpe United came to town on Saturday to celebrate their success and hopefully see their team take the League One Championship, Rovers fans were left to reflect on the good start to the season and where and when it all went a little bit pear-shaped.

 

Eventually, it was two second half goals, one of them perhaps a little controversial, which sealed a 2-0 win for the Iron and ultimately the title, bar a major disaster with their goal difference.

 

Ronnie Moore made three changes to the side that drew 2-2 at Millwall last Saturday with Robbie Stockdale being replaced at right-back by Chris McCready whilst Steve Davies and Craig Curran started on the left and right wings respectively in place of Chris Shuker and Gareth Taylor with the latter not even in the sixteen man squad.

 

It was Rovers who had the early chances as they attacked the Cowshed end which was experiencing a party atmosphere of balloons, flags and banners from the visiting fans.

 

Steve Davies and Chris Greenacre had early changes that Scunthorpe dealt with and at the other end John Thompson made a superb saving tackle on Billy Sharp to deny him a goal.

 

Paul McLaren beat former Rovers goalkeeper Joe Murphy from 25 yards but his shot struck the base of the right hand post and went out for a goal-kick and shortly after Chris Greenacre was gifted a chance from a poor backpass but Joe Murphy gathered easily.

 

After Beckford had fired over for Scunthorpe, Paul McLaren did the same for Rovers on the stroke of half-time after a good move involving first Steve Davies and then a superb lobbed pass from Danny Harrison.

 

The 0-0 half-time score-line was probably about right with Rovers perhaps having had the better of the first-half chances but it was the visitors who took the lead in somewhat controversial circumstances with their first attack of the second half.

 

Kevan Hurst crossed from the right and Andy Butler was somehow allowed a free header at goal which Gavin Ward appeared to save well down to his right.  However the linesman had other ideas, judging that the ball had crossed the line as Ward attempted to save and the goal was given somewhat harshly as an own goal against Gavin Ward.

 

The League leaders got on top after going ahead and Beckford and Taylor both had chances to double the lead before Billy Sharp eventually did with twenty minutes remaining. 

 

Cleveland Taylor ran clear down the right and fed Beckford who in turn fed Billy Sharp as Gavin Ward and his defenders seemed static and Sharp tapped in from three yards to effectively end the game.

 

Prior to the goal, Chris Shuker had replaced Chris McCready as Rovers shifted formation to play three at the back but Sharp’s goal proved to be the last real action of the game with more of the entertainment confined to the Main Stand towards the final ten minutes of the game.

 

The win meant Scunthorpe must lose both their last two matches by five or six goals in order to not win the title whilst for Tranmere, the play-offs are out of the question barring a massive goal haul for them in the final two matches as well as other results going their way.

 

Rovers are at Crewe next week for their last away game of the season so why not travel the short distance and let’s have a great day out supporting the lads.

 

 

Paul McLaren – On a day when not many shone through against the Champions elect of League One, Paul McLaren had a decent performance in midfield and had two great goal-scoring chances.

 

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