News & EventsLatest NewsCalendar
Marine 1-2 Tranmere Rovers

Marine 1-2 Tranmere Rovers

Dave McMillan20 Jul 2011 - 11:49
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.pitchero.com/clubs

Mariners defeated by strong Tranmere side at Arriva..

Match report by Dave McMillan

Paul Lundon’s goal nine minutes from time wasn’t enough for Marine to draw their pre season friendly with Tranmere Rovers, the visitors scoring twice inside a couple of first half minutes to win Tuesday night’s game at the Arriva Stadium.

A strong Tranmere team gave Marine a stern test, the first half belonging to the visitors with the second having little to choose between the sides.

Louis Barnes had the first real effort with a driven cross which Andy Coughlin stretched to push away, before Ryan McMahon had to come off his line to smother at the feet of Lucas Akins.

Rovers opened the scoring after 15 minutes following a great left wing cross from Adam McGurk, Akins rising to head in from 8 yards, the ball bouncing off the turf and then the crossbar.

McGurk turned provider again just two minutes later with a virtually identical delivery, this time to the near post where Andy Robinson got the final touch, McMahon’s punch rebounding off him and in to the net.

Stephen Johnson showed some nice skill to get away from his man and free Darren Byers, the new signing laying off for Sam Barnes to fire well wide of the target.

Akins was proving something of a handful and should really have added another goal to his tally, rising unmarked to meet Joss Labadie’s inviting centre but glancing his header wide.

Neil Harvey beat a covering defender in the area to put in a dangerous cross, Paul Henry going very close to applying the vital touch in Marine’s best opening of the half.

The start of the second half saw the Mariners force a corner, Rovers’ substitute keeper John Courtenay doing well to tip the ball away as it swung towards the far post.

Tom Soffe had to scramble across his goal to push Akins’ angled drive away for a corner before Marine had a good chance, sub James “Smiler” Thomas attempting a long range lob which brought a fine save from Courtenay.

Marine did pull one back though with a great goal after good work from Thomas Moore, Lundon collecting his pass before curling a sublime 25 yarder in to the top corner.

Marine 1st half:Ryan McMahon, Sam Barnes, John Shaw, Tony Davies, Paul Henry, Dave Roberts, Stephen Johnson, Joe Fowler, Neil Harvey, Darren Byers, Louis Barnes.
Marine 2nd half: Tom Soffe, Sam Barnes (Louis Barnes 74), Paul Lundon, Tony Davies (Phil Brazier 72), Stephen Brown (Ben Jackson 78), Jack Booth, James Thomas, Ian Latham, Jon Goulding, Thomas Moore, Aaron Rey.

Tranmere Rovers: Andy Coughlin (John Courtenay 45), Michael Kay, Zoumana Bakayogo (Dave Buchanan 45), Joss Labadie (Will Vaulks 86), Ash Taylor, David Raven, Lucas Akins, John Welsh, Adam McGurk (Cole Stockton 83), Andy Robinson (Steve Wainwright 39), Max Power.

Referee: Mr. Mark Murphy; Assistants Mr. Peter Stone, Mr. Kieran Johnson.

Attendance: 403.

Further reading