Nicky Law kept true to his word about making no changes other than to replace the suspended Tony Crane. Greg Young took that role with Craig Armstrong failing to recover from his torn thigh, despite earlier hopes.
That meant that Graham Hockless once again started on the bench, despite scoring one and setting another goal up within minutes of coming off the bench in his previous two games.
The task for Town was dead simple - win and we stay up. Win and we get a hefty number of local derbies next season. Win and we can at least write the season off as a nothing year.
Town gathered into their huddle, unity and all that. Shame they’ve not shown any passion through the earlier stages of the season, eh?
The 2,000 odd Town fans were visibly cacking it, the professionals on the pitch didn’t seem much better, or bothered if you prefer.
The opening minutes brought two mix-ups from Edwards and Fettis but luckily the lines were cleared but Town were hanging on. Tranmere smelt blood and went for the throat. Small forward Iain Hume, shit hair, was a constant threat with his determination and pace. The Canadian floated around the pitch all game and neither Edwards or Young was sure who was to pick him up.
Town did settle without Fettis having to make a save. The first effort on goal saw Jevons cut inside from the right after strong play from Rankin. Jevons’s shot seemed decent but it was blocked early for a Town corner.
The corner was very, very poor and easily cleared. Former Hull winger David Beresford picked up the clearance before bombing down the wing. Stacy Coldicott was having none of that and clattered the wideman with a fair but bloody hard challenge that left Beresford on the touchline needing treatment.
Hume’s determination saw him bearing down on Greg Young as the last man. The youngster twisted and turned but Greg wasn’t fooled and calmly took the ball from Hume’s feet before playing out of defence. Bobby Moore Mk II
Town were now starting to attack with more freedom, especially through the pacy Rankin. It was through Rankin that Town won a free-kick 30 yards out. Jevons and Barnard pondered over it, Jevons it was who stepped up. John Achterberg flung across his goal to prevent a superb goal.
Town had some confidence to play with and they passed the ball well, looked for attacking options and in general were having the better of the game.
Campbell’s jinking run brought a great chance to Mansaram inside the box but Flash screwed his shot well wide with only the ‘keeper to beat.
On 24 minutes the young striker redeemed himself. Rankin picked up the ball just inside the Rovers half, with Goodison in close proximity. Rankin drew him in before producing a delightful nutmeg leaving him free to sprint clear. The Tranmere defence gasped to get back but there was no catching Isaiah, cutting into the box he squared for the awaiting Mansaram. Sharps managed to stick a foot out to direct the ball away from the strikers foot. Flash reacted quickest though and his shot on the turn from eight yards out blasted into the net to send the 2,000 Town fans wild.
For the next ten minutes Town threatened to double their lead but never quite managed to do so. In midfield Lawrence and Coldicott were blocking everything whilst in defence Young was also throwing his body at everything. The calmness of Edwards was a welcome asset whenever Hume ran at the back four.
As the half ended Tranmere had the better of the play with more than one long range effort fizzing wide of Fettis’goal.
Brian Little brought on Eugene Dadi for the second half with most Town fans remembering the run around he gave us back in November. However it was Town who came out all guns blazing, Rankin on two occasions raced onto through balls but was simply out numbered. The tactic of balls into wide areas between defenders was proving effective against the slow defence.
From a Tranmere corner a big bloody scramble ensued with no-one really sure what was going on, the scramble seemed to last forever and I for one breathed a sigh of relief when Greg Young gave the ball a great big welly into touch.
But Town were sitting back, just for a change like. Cross after cross came in and eventually it paid off for Rovers. Beresford’s deep cross was met by the unmarked Hume who headed across the goal and into the net. 1-1. As it stood then Town were still safe. Brentford and Chesterfield were drawing, Rushden 1-0 down to Vale.
Town responded by hoofing the ball upfield as if the panic had already set in. Mansaram battled for one of the long punts and got the wrong side of Sharps. The centre back needlessly pulled Flash down leaving referee Penton no choice but to show a second yellow card. With Town now a man up would they take advantage, would they fuck!
By now Town had realised that Achterberg was a bit crap at kicking so Rankin was giving the task of running in and putting the shits up him for every backpass. It nearly worked too. The big stopper panicked and kicked against one of his own defenders. The ball spun back goalwards but despite spinning around like mad, it didn’t have enough spin to go into the empty net. Booooo.
From the corner Jevons and Barnard dallied around before slamming the ball into the box in hope rather than planning after they were closed down. The ball came out to Coldicott who lost possession to Hume. Luckily Lawrence recovered it well and tried to hold of the crap-haired one. Sadly Lawrence was skipped past and allowed Hume a free run towards Town’s goal. With no challenge until the box he was able to feed Dadi who stroked past Fettis to give Tranmere the lead.
Town were still safe with Chesterfield drawing. If results stayed the same we’d stay up by a point.
As is usually the case, the ten men out battled the eleven. However in the second half we could have had twenty men and we’d still have got out battled. It’s all down to who wants it the most. Sadly, as with this whole season, Town have too many players who don’t want it enough. They are happy to pick up their pay and put in the minimal effort. Just not good enough!
Town introduced Hockless for Mansaram, Jevons going up front. Straight away Hockless proved his class. Stepover shimmy to make a mug of Taylor before putting in Town’s first decent cross of the afternoon was his first contribution.
His second was to pick up the ball on the halfway line. Looking for options he found none. Now when the battling was needed, players were hiding. Realising he would have to do it alone he moved forward, rode one challenge, then another. Even still no movement was made for Hockless, with no other option he shot from distance. The shot caused Achterberg to fumble for a corner but the lack of attacking options was shocking to see, especially as we really had nothing to lose.
Town had an awful lot of possession about forty yards out but just couldn’t push further forward. Crowe and Campbell were forever running up and down the right touchline with the ball but not getting the cross in. On the occasions they did, it was easily cleared and a white shirt was first to the loose ball.
From a short free-kick the ball came to Crowe who ran in at speed to shoot but his shot was straight into the ‘keepers arms.
A whisper that Luton were winning spread like wildfire around the Cowshed. Town fans cheered with delight, sadly it was some twat making it up. The score at Saltergate was still 0-0.
As Town chugged on without ever getting anywhere news came from Derbyshire..........David Reeves had scored with two minutes to go! Also Brentford had struck a late goal to give them the lead over Bournemouth. Town were down!
The players heard the fans reactions but failed to respond. The big surges upfield never came. Some didn’t even care, I’m sure of that.
The final whistle was blown and the tears came, I have no shame in admitting I was one of those crying. I have no shame in admitting I love this club, I have no shame in that at all. It is a sad thing to say but the players lack the passion shown by the fans. Had they shown 10% of our passion we would have won the Championship in March.
The biggest disgrace of all was yet to come though. With the final whistle came the clapping off the field, mixed with some booing. Nicky Law and Isaiah Rankin went straight down the tunnel. Only Graham Rodger, Graham Hockless and Greg Young came over to applaud the fans. The others looked around dejected and offered a weak applause. Ashamed of themselves? More like too bloody ignorant to care!
Man of the Match - Mike Edwards. Solid performance again. Experience beyond his years. He won’t fancy going back into the third division and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a good number of clubs after him.