Second Successive Friendly Ends Goaless

By Deadly Submarine
July 24 2005

Following on from the 0-0 friendly draw at Morecambe on Wednesday, Rovers came back from Gay Meadow Shrewsbury with the same result despite having the best of the chances throughout the game. Unlike in previous away friendlies so far though, Rovers did not play a different 11 in each half.

 

Manager Brian Little named a starting line-up that many Rovers fans would expect to be the team selected for the opening League One Fixture at Swansea in two weeks time. 

 

A back four of Linwood, Jackson, Sharps and Goodison meant that Gareth Roberts took his place on the left side of midfield with Sam Aiston on the right and McAteer and Rankine in the centre of the midfield.  Chris Greenacre partnered Iain Hume upfront with still no sign of Calvin Zola in the squad after limping out of the action against Marine on Tuesday.

 

Whilst Rovers’ new signing Sam Aiston was facing his former club, Tranmere found themselves up against former youth player Neil Ashton.

 

Chris Greenacre had a good early chance for Rovers after just three minutes but his turn and shot from 25 yards was over the bar whilst just four minutes later, Iain Hume went round the Shrews keeper but couldn’t finish at a tight angle.

 

Hume and Greenacre looked to be playing well as a strike pairing and exchanged further chances during the first half that included a Hume free-kick that went just wide and a curling shot from Greenacre that went wide just before half-time.

 

Rovers made three changes at half-time as Jennings, Brown and Harrison replaced McAteer, Aiston and Rankine in midfield.  Brown, Jennings and even Ian Goodison had chances to open the scoring for Rovers but were each denied before Eugene Dadi replaced Iain Hume after an hour of the game.

 

Immediately after the substitution, Paul Linwood was the Rovers hero as he cleared off the goal line from a Tolley header.  Rovers made two more substitutions, firstly Carl Tremarco replacing Ian Goodison and then a few minutes later, Steve Davies replacing Chris Greenacre just a day after celebrating the signing of his new professional contract at the club.

 

Harrison, Brown and Davies all had chances caught fairly easily by the goalkeeper while John Achterberg had to be at his best right at the death when forced him into a diving save that ensured that the game ended goaless.