Tranmere 2nd Half

By: Dan Humphrey
Date: 20/12/2000

At half time, a group of us decided that perhaps Bloomer on for Donovan would be the answer, with Groves joining Burnett in midfield? Or Dave Smith to play on the left? The consensus was the despite all our injuries, we could win this. Perhaps.

If only we had another striker on the bench.... a Lester, an Ashcroft, or a Daryl Clare. (Some may laugh, but Clare would've fitted in well behind the front 2). Someone even mentioned Kingsley Black.

We were shocked to see Macca go off. Everyone immediately as one turned to their neighbours - 'he must be injured'. Butterfield came on and had a torrid time, frequently outnumbered, it was as if the opposition were picking on him. mind you, they alsoseemed to pick on Galli a bit too.... Our lack of width again.

Both teams looked a bit fired up after half time. Town notably so. We passed it. We attacked. We looked a bit dangerous. Perhaps Lennie had realised that not one first half long ball had worked. So we kept it on the ground.

Then the TURNING POINT. A hopeful Town clearance saw Willems break through a feeble Tranmere offside trap. He was going to score! Except Myrhe came out brilliantly to the edge of the box. Willems, shoot! Go on....

But instead he side-footed it to Campbell, who immediately under pressure from a defender, 10 yards out, hit it first time, diagonally towards goal. Agonisingly, 1 yard wide. He had to shoot or the chance would have gone. Why didn't Willems shoot? Well he was unselfish, give him that.

After that Tranmere woke up. They attacked the wings, finally used the pace of Parkinson, who must be one of the fastest in the division. Or maybe that was just Paul Rideout making him look fast? Butterfield was struggling, Smith was tiring. Galli and Butterfield competed in a game of who can give the ball away most often? And amongst all this Tranmere scored. Twice.

There was some Town pressure for 15 mins at the end. Donovan woke up. Bloomer replaced the impressive but now exhausted Smith, and we wasted a few corners. Nielsen had a good spell, presumably because defenders had noticed Donovan's presence, leaving Nielsen with more space. And as we attacked there were a few half-chances. Burnett got the ball stuck under his feet in the area. Nielsen ran and ran - even chasing a lost ball, trapping it 1/2 yard from the touchline, whipping in a nice cross, only for the ref to give a goal kick. (Oh yes, the ref was as poor as most of the game... baffling corner and throw in decisions were his forte)

Finally Tony Gallimore did something for Town that Lawrence must have left out of his teamtalk. He had a shot! It was on target! The keeper saved it easily, but it gave us some hope.....

Then it all ended, and the Mariners in Exile over here hoped for Everton or Liverpool in the Cup...and a shorter injury list....

Man Of The Match: Burnett - orchestrated everything positive, vital interceptions and tidy passing.

RATINGS: Coyne 7, Macca 7 (Butterfield 5) Fostervold 6 (Gallimore 5 plus 0.5 for a shot = 5.5) RSmith 7 (Bloomer 6), Groves 5, Willems 6, Campbell 7, Burnett 7.5, Donovan 5, Nielsen 6.5, Jeffrey 4.

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