Unbeaten run goes on as Rovers go through.
Wednesday 9th December, 2009
By Richard Ault

Tranmere extended their unbeaten run to five games and booked a home tie with Wolves in the third round of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win at Aldershot on Tuesday night.

Just under 300 Rovers fans braved miserable weather conditions to make the journey down to the Recreation Ground last night, and were rewarded with a fairly comfortable passage into round three. 

Rovers bossed the early exchanges of the game although both sides struggled retain possession for anything more than 5 or 6 passes, partly due to the sodden turf.  As the rain continued to fall, Les Parry's men did manage to take the upper-hand.

Marvin Morgan shot in to the side netting in the home sides only chance of note in the first half, the Rovers back four keeping the hosts at bay comfortably.  Welsh, Edds and especially Ash Taylor were superb in midfield, whilst the front three of Thomas-Moore, Gornell and Curran ran tirelessly but were made to chase many through balls that just skidded away in to touch.

John Welsh went close with a spectacular dipping half-volley from distance as the first half drew to a close, but it was Thomas-Moore who got the breakthrough.

Gornell, who was constantly being penalised for being fouled by the centre backs, was finally given a decision in his favour by the poor referee.  Welsh took the free-kick just inside the Aldershot half and sent the ball wide to Thomas-Moore. 

His initial attempt to cross from the right was blocked, but as the ball bounced back to him he hit a delicious half-volley back towards goal.  It looked for a second as though the goalkeeper would catch it, but at the last moment his centre back stretched and got a telling touch with his head, diverting it into the back of the net.

The goal came in the dying minutes of the first half, and so Rovers saw it out until the interval with no problems.

The second half saw Rovers start well again, and within four minutes they'd all-but killed the tie off.  Shaleum Logan was released up the right wing and delivered a deep ball into the far post.  It found Gornell, who brought the ball down brilliantly before converting from a tight angle.  It's difficult to say as the view from the away end was poor, but it looked as though it went in off the keepers legs.

Rovers played quite laid back from here on in, trying to get the ball down and pass despite the conditions and getting in the faces of the Aldershot players when they had possession.  There were brief openings on the break to further the lead, but nothing clear-cut.

To be fair Aldershot continued to try and get a foot hold in the game.  Daniels was commanding in goal, the back four stood firm in front of him.  They did have one great chance after battling their way through, but the player in front of goal was somehow failed to even get his shot on target.

His miss was seemingly an invitation for the home fans to attempt to charge at the segregated area seperating them from the Rovers fans.  Quite what they wished to achieve was anyone's guess, four or five stewards and some sheets of material was enough to stop them in their tracks.

Thomas-Moore looked odds-on to add another on the counter-attack before he was tripped by the last man in the area.  His honesty was his undoing though, as he popped back to his feet and continued to try and work the opening, the ref wasn't going to give us anything.

Rovers introduced McLaren for Welsh and Ricketts for Gornell as the game was in the final ten minutes, and both missed guilt-edge chances to make it 0-3. 

Ricketts did well to control the ball and play Curran in behind the full-back on the right.  McLaren was totally unmarked in the middle and Curran managed to pick him out.  However, the midfielder just couldn't control the ball quick enough with only the keeper to beat, and when he finally did he gave it to Ricketts on the edge of the box who blasted the ball high and wide, and out of the ground!

Aldershot finally did grab a goal deep stoppage time, scrambling the ball in at the far post, but it was too little, far too late.

The full-time whistle sounded shortly after and the Rovers players made their way to the travelling fans to celebrate a safe passage into round three.  Once more Aldershot 'fans' tried to rush to the fence separating the fans, throwing bottles and whatever else they could into the Tranmere section.  A disappointing way to end the night really, and totally pointless.

Onwards and upwards we continue then, a home tie with Premiership opposition awaits in the next round, plus Rovers pocket prize money of £27,000.

Well done lads.