Tranmere Rovers
Youth Team Defeated Despite Spirited Display
By Matthew Jones
July 10 2010
Total Tranmere brings you an exclusive match report from Holyhead where Tranmere's youth team this evening kicked off their pre-season preperations and despite a spirited display fell eventually to a narrow 4-3 defeat.....
Tranmere Rovers' youth team were defeated 4-3 in an entertaining pre-season friendly match against Holyhead Hotspurs on a horrible, wet, windy evening on the Isle of Anglesey.
The team, managed by Shaun Garnett for the first time since his return to the role earlier this week, was playing its first game in preparation for the 2010/11 season, with many of last years first year scholars joined for the trip for the first time by their new team mates for the season.
Rovers lined up as follows:
1. Andy Coughlin
2. Steven Wainwright
3. David McNamara
4. Liam Benson
5. Will Vaulks
6. Mark Beech
7. Joe Conchie
8. Connor Roberts
9. Dale Jennings
10. Jay Gibbs (c)
11. Ellis Healing
Substitutes:
Jake Kirby, Nathan Jones, Jake Courtney, Cole Stockton, Ellis Appleton, Jordan Holmes, John Holmes, James Joyce, James Kearns
1. Andy Coughlin
2. Steven Wainwright
3. David McNamara
4. Liam Benson
5. Will Vaulks
6. Mark Beech
7. Joe Conchie
8. Connor Roberts
9. Dale Jennings
10. Jay Gibbs (c)
11. Ellis Healing
Substitutes:
Jake Kirby, Nathan Jones, Jake Courtney, Cole Stockton, Ellis Appleton, Jordan Holmes, John Holmes, James Joyce, James Kearns
The game started badly for Rovers as they conceded within five minutes. Holyhead attacked with purpose down the right, but after the attack broke down, Tranmere failed to clear the danger properly, with the ball landing on the edge of the area where Holyhead player Mike Edwards fired the ball passed the unfortunate Andy Coughlin with the aid of a deflection.
Tranmere weren't behind for long though as within five minutes they had equalised as the promising striker Dale Jennings netted from close range.
Rovers attacked brilliantly down the right through full-back Steve Wainwright, who eventually crossed the ball along the six yard box after getting into the penalty area, from where Jennings tapped the ball into the empty net.
Minutes later and Tranmere had taken the lead as Connor Roberts smashed the ball home from the edge of the area, with Wainwright again involved in the action as his superb cross from the right was only cleared as for as Roberts by the Holyhead defence.
Like Holyhead's lead earlier, however, Tranmere's advantage didn't last long as Vaulks scored an own goal to put the game level again, slicing a clearance into his own net from Rowlands' cross on the right.
Despite only being half-way through the first half, up until half-time there was now very little goalmouth action. Coughlin was forced into a couple of saves for Rovers, whilst at the other end Dale Jennings hit the side netting with an effort from distance, but other than that neither 'keeper was particularly tested as the majority of efforts on goal went wide or high.
The slippery and wet conditions under foot made things difficult and often both teams resorted to long ball tactics as they looked to pressure the other team into a mistake at the back due to a lucky bounce or the ball getting stuck in the wet grass.
There were a couple of shaky moments for Tranmere, Coughlin slipping when coming out of his goal to clear one such long ball, and Vaulks completely miss-timing a tackle as a Holyhead player advanced on goal, with Benson coming across to save the day for Tranmere, as fortunately Rovers went in at half time 2-2.
As the second half kicked off, the rain got worse and Tranmere made several substitutions, including replacing the lively Dale Jennings, and this seemed to disjoint the team.
It didn't take long for the Hotspurs to take the lead for the second time in the match, as poor defending from a corner saw a player receive the ball at the near post and turn easily before slotting the ball into the net.
Tranmere had a chance to equalise not long after as a superb run down the left from substitute Ellis Appleton saw the lively winger beat several men before seeing a goal wards shot saved superbly by the 'keeper down to his left as the ball skipped up off the wet grass.
The next goal however would go Holyhead's way, and it was the goal of the match. An attacking move down the Holyhead left ended up in a superb cross coming into the box. With several of Tranmere's defenders having been drawn out wide, there were men free in the middle, with one Holyhead striker rising high to expertly head the ball goal wards.
Unluckily, the ball hit the cross bar, but it bounced back out to the same man, who superbly sent the ball into the bottom corner with a well aimed, acrobatic overhead kick, making the score 4-2.In the final fifteen minutes of the match, Tranmere had claims for a penalty turned down as Wainwright was brought down in the box, but minutes later they were awarded a spot kick after a Rovers substitute was brought down on the edge of the area following a nifty run past a couple of Holyhead defenders.
Second year scholar Liam Benson stepped up to take the spot kick, and he set up a nervy finish as he coolly sent the ball into the net via the 'keepers left-hand post.
Tranmere however couldn't equalise against their older, more experienced opponents and as such started their pre-season preparations with a defeat.
Despite the result though, there were many positive displays from Rovers' U-18 side. Conditions weren't easy for either team, with the wind and rain making passing football difficult, but in the first half especially, Tranmere managed to "ping" the ball around effectively in the Holyhead half of the field.
Player wise, as ever, Dale Jennings was lively upfront and got himself on the score sheet, whilst Jay Gibbs in centre-midfield, a former Holyhead youngster himself, looked calm and collective just behind Jennings in attacking midfield, passing the ball accurately out to both flanks and linking up well with the Tranmere number nine.
Ellis Appleton was creative and energetic when he came on, whilst Vaulks and Benson each had their moments defensively and Connor Roberts scored a smashing goal.
Man of the match though, from Total Tranmere, goes to young right-back Steve Wainwright. The first year scholar looked confident on the ball and got forward really well, having a huge hand in both of Rovers' goals in the first half, and having a penalty appeal turned down in the second.
Shaun Garnett will be pleased of how his side started pre-season, especially without star midfielder Max Power, and will be hoping for more of the same, if not better, over the coming ten months.
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Discussion started by Total Tranmere (IP Logged), 10/07/2010 00:02
10/07/2010 00:02
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As the article says, the stand out player for me was Steve Wainwright followed closely by Joe Conchie.
I also thought Jay Gibbs, Dale Jennings and Connor Roberts were decent whilst Will Vaulks did well at the back but even better in centre midfield i nthe second half!
I also thought Jay Gibbs, Dale Jennings and Connor Roberts were decent whilst Will Vaulks did well at the back but even better in centre midfield i nthe second half!
Man of the Match for youth games should recieve a 2 litre bottle of coke, sponsored by Total Tranmere.
No! He was there so we concluded either injured or more first team involvement in pre-season for him.
Thought the lads did well especially considering the conditions. Good experience especially for the u16s involved.
does anyone have any information on where john courtney and jake kirby play ? would be much appreciated as its for the new football manager game and i would like to get it as correct as possible.
cheers
cheers
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