By Mark Ridgway
April 13 2009
Mark Ridgway reports on Tranmere's 2-1 home win over Hereford United this afternoon which kept Rovers in the top six in League One with just three games remaining. First half goals from Bas Savage and Charlie Barnett sealed the win for Rovers.

Tranmere Rovers 2 - 1 Hereford United
Savage 8 Guinan (pen) 90
Barnett 27
Attendance - 5,945
![]()
Goals from Savage and Barnett saw off Hereford at Prenton Park although the game was soured by an Ian Goodison sending off and a soft Hereford penalty right at the death.
There was one change to the side that beat Walsall just 48 hours previously, with Andy Taylor coming in to replace Aaron Cresswell, so the team looked like this....
Coyne
Shotton Chorley Goodison Taylor
Sonko Kay Jennings Barnett
Savage Moore
The first chance of the game fell to Rovers as the keeper failed to gather a Rovers cross and Ian Moore set up Kay whose effort was deflected behind for a corner.
The next chance brought the first goal on eight minutes when Ian Moore's lobbed pass sent Bas Savage clean through and he calmly slotted under the keeper to make it 1-0.
Taylor then cut inside and tested Gulacsi and when Ian Moore was fouled, Taylor shot over from the free-kick. Shotton then shot straight at the keeper from 25 yards.
Sonko had a shot put behind for a corner and after the corner was taken short and Barnett played in Sonko, the Gambian knocked back for Shotton who set up Charlie Barnett who found the top corner from twelve yards with a superb finish.
Hereford's first shot of the game came from Pugh from a free kick which was kept out by Coyne and Sonko had a decent effort saved for Rovers.
Half Time: Tranmere Rovers 2 - 0 Hereford United
Gareth Edds came on at half-time to replace Steve Jennings and he had the first chance of the half, shooting straight at the keeper from outside the area and the rebound couldn't be turned in.
O'Leary had a header well saved by Danny Coyne who was desperate to hang onto the clean sheet.
Savage set up Sonko whose powerful run ended with him smashing into the side netting and then out of the blue Rovers were reduced to ten men, as a fairly innocuous challenge by Goodison was deemed dangerous by the referee and he saw red.
Both players appeared to go in two footed and Rovers may decided to appeal against the decision.
Kay moved to centre back after Goodison's dismissal and Rovers leaving Rovers with a three man midfield. The game still seemed comfortable as Edds shot wide for Rovers but in injury time Rovers gave away a penalty.
Again it was a soft decision as Myrie-Williams hit the deck after coming together with Shotton. Guinan scored emphatically from the spot but time was called before the game was restarted.
Half Time: Tranmere Rovers 2 - 1 Hereford United
Ryan Shotton
Ryan was much improved from Saturday where he looked shaky and was careless. Today he was back to his usually self, confident going forward and a rock at the back and the penalty he gave away was never a penalty.

