Curran and Barnett Hand Rovers a Win at Morecambe
By Deadly Submarine
July 27 2008
First half goals from Craig Curran and Charlie Barnett help Rovers to a 2-1 win at Morecambe on Saturday but Rovers finish the match with just ten men as substitute Paul Henry is sent off in the final minute for a late challenge on a Morecambe player.
Morecambe 1 - 2 Rovers
Rene Howe 73 Craig Curran 7
Charlie Barnett 27
Match Referee - Lee Mason
In terms of the level of the opponent, Morecambe provided the biggest test of Rovers' pre-season campaign since the home game against Liverpool and after a performance of almost total domination in the first half, Rovers somewhat let themselves down with a poor second half performance but still held on for the win.
With Gareth Edds, Adnan Ahmed and Chris Shuker all still missing through injury, Ronnie Moore continued with the 4-3-3 formation used throughout the pre-season campaign so far but disaster struck before the game even kicked off as goalkeeper Danny Coyne emerged from the tunnel with the rest of the team but was replaced by John Achterberg before the game even kicked off after reportedly pulling a muscle.
It is not thought the injury is anything serious though and his withdrawal was just thought to be a precaution.
Latest signing Godwin Antwi, who joined the Club on Friday on loan until January from Liverpool took up the left-back berth as Rovers lined up as follows...............
Achterberg
Antwi Kay Chorley Taylor
Jennings O'Callaghan Barnett
Curran Savage Gornell
Rovers got quickly into their stride and passed the ball around well from back to front but it was the hosts who came closest to opening the scoring in the third minute when Morecambe's Fraser McLachlan forced John Achterberg into a great early save.
The Impressive Charlie Barnett Goes Forward for Rovers
Four minutes later though, after a good spell of possession, Rovers were in the lead themselves and it was Bas Savage, who has been indifferent in the past friendly games, who created the goal with some superb work out on the right hand side of the pitch.
After winning the ball and cutting inside his man, Savage, who had made a good start to the game, crossed the ball into the area where Craig Curran finished for his third pre-season goal after his brace at Southport in midweek.
After Gornell had missed a good chance to make it two following more good football from Rovers and after a Rovers goal was also disallowed for a foul, Curran then turned provider in the 21st minute as Rovers did eventually double their lead.
A neat ball into the penalty area from George O'Callaghan found Craig Curran who in turn fed Charlie Barnett to score although some will debate whether Terry Gornell had actually turned the ball in before it crossed the line.
Rovers Defend in Numbers to Thwart the Hosts
Rovers continued to dominate and although the hosts had a few chances of their own it was Tranmere, with Jennings and Barnett pulling the midfield strings who had the grip of the game as the half-time whistle blew.
HALF-TIME - MORECAMBE 0 - 2 TRANMERE ROVERS
The start of the second half saw Rovers Manager Ronnie Moore make three changes to the side with all three strikers, Savage, Curran and Gornell replaced by Ian Moore, Chris Greenacre and Edrissa Sonko who was appearing for only the second time in pre-season after a rest following International duty.
These changes proved to be Rovers downfall as Greenacre and Moore, along with Sonko seemed unable to make the same impact as a front three as had been the case in the first half and as a result Morecambe dominated the second half almost right through.
Rovers Have a First Half Goal Disallowed
The tempo of the game visibly dropped and for the first twenty minutes of the half, neither goalkeeper was really tested until Morecambe's new signing Rene Howe, a first half substitute, forced Achterberg into a save.
In the 70th minute, Morecambe made a triple substitution whilst Rovers replaced the somewhat disappointing George O'Callaghan with Paul Henry in midfield.
On 73 minutes, Ian Goodison replaced Ben Chorley at the back for Rovers and the result was instant disaster as a long ball over the top of the Rovers' defence was misjudged by the Jamaican who was yet to touch the ball at this point and Rene Howe slotted underneath the diving Achterberg to make it 2-1.
Morecambe's Keeper Roche (In Orange) Collects a Rovers Chance
In the final minutes, Steve Jennings could have put more of a shine on the scoreline after some more glimpses of the good football seen in the first half by Rovers but Roche in the Morecambe goal saved well to deny him.
In the final minute, Paul Henry mis-controlled a pass which bounced off his knee and ran loose. As he attempted to win the ball back he lunged for the ball and caught Morecambe's David Artell.
With the game being a friendly, some expected a Yellow Card but referee Mason had other ideas and showed Henry the Red Card as Rovers held out in injury time for their fourth successive pre-season win.
FULL-TIME - MORECAMBE 1 - 2 TRANMERE ROVERS
Rovers Team:
Achterberg, Antwi, Chorley, Kay, Taylor, Jennings, Barnett, O'Callaghan (Henry 70), Gornell (Greenacre 45), Curran (Moore 45), Savage (Sonko 45)
Subs Not Used - Coyne, Holmes, Waterfall, Cresswell
Charlie Barnett
Another good game for Steve Jennings and for Craig Curran who only played 45 minutes but the most impressive player yet again was trialist Charlie Barnett in midfield. He controlled the ball well, spread the passes and always made time for himself on the ball. This lad is a must-sign player before the season begins on August 9th.