Altrincham 0, Tranmere 1

Jul 31 2007 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

TRANMERE ROVERS may yet have to pay a price for last night’s pre-season friendly victory over Altrincham at Moss Lane.

A 63rd-minute goal by Craig Curran earned Tranmere a fifth victory in seven warm-up games this summer.

But central midfielders John Mullin and Steve Jennings were forced out of the action either side of half-time after taking knocks in a contest marked by several sharp challenges.

It was particularly bad luck on the experienced Mullin, who has been attempting to play catch-up in recent weeks after missing training and matches with a knee strain.

Jennings was sent on to replace the limping Mullin on 36 minutes only to take a knock himself eight minutes into the second half.

Ben Chorley, another player attempting to sharpen up his fitness following a recent lay-off, had better luck.

The centre-back was a strong and steady influence alongside 17-year-old Ashton Taylor at the heart of the Rovers’ rearguard.

Youth-teamer Taylor can take some satisfaction in helping Rovers keep a clean sheet against the Conference side.

Rovers created the clearest chances and merited the victory as they experimented for the best part of an hour with a 4-3-3 formation.

Altrincham goalkeeper Stuart Coburn had to make a resourceful double save to deny Rovers a 15th-minute lead.

Cockburn could not hold on to a stinging cross shot from the right by striker Gareth Taylor but then reacted quickly to block Mike Jones’s close-range effort from the rebound.

Midfielder Adnan Ahmed created another opportunity 10 minutes later, dribbling past two challengers in a crowded penalty area to make room for his right foot.

But the shot from a dozen yards flew high over the bar.

Teenager Craig Curran thought he had given Tranmere a 33rd-minute lead when he sprang Altrincham’s offside trap with a run through the inside right channel and slipped his shot past the advancing Coburn.

But the ball struck the inside of the left hand post and bounced to safety.

Altrincham, in high-scoring form over recent three season fixtures, gave Tranmere’s back line some anxious first half moments without creating a scoring chance.

Rovers were forced into an adjustment on 36 minutes when John Mullin limped off after taking a knock and was replaced by Steve Jennings.

Jennings himself had to be withdrawn on 53 minutes after being hurt in a crunching challenge with Altrincham’s veteran midfield enforcer Val Owen. Steve Davies replaced him.

Gareth Taylor appealed in vain for a penalty on 56 minutes after tumbling over a challenge by Darren Timson in the box.

Tranmere made the breakthrough on 63 minutes after weathering a spell of pressure from the home side Ashton Taylor played his part in the move, breaking up an attack and supplying the ball to Paul Henry who sent Curran racing clear of the home defence with a long, through pass.

This time the teenager’s finish was placed snugly inside the post.

Referee Anthony Taylor waved away Altrincham’s strong appeals for a penalty two minutes later when Cavell Coo went sprawling under a challenge from Michael Johnston.

Coburn made a point-blank range save from Curran to deny Tranmere a second goal on 87 minutes.

TRANMERE: Achterberg, Johnston, A Taylor, Chorley, Tremarco, Jones, Mullin, (Jennings 36, Davies 54), Henry, Ahmed, G Taylor, Curran.

REFEREE: Mr Anthony Taylor.

NEXT GAME: Tranmere v Stoke City, friendly, Friday, August 3, 7.45pm.