Rovers reserves win unlikely to be enough

Oct 18 2007 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

EARLY goals put Tranmere in the driving seat at Prenton Park last night, but the 2-1 victory in the group stage of the Pontin’s Holidays League Cup against Chester City Reserves is unlikely to be enough to qualify them for the knockout semi-finals.

Ash Taylor fired them ahead from an Aaron Cresswell free-kick in the 12th minute.

Then Curran burst through to beat Phil Palethorpe from 12 yards six minutes later.

City created a few chances but finished well to gain consolation from an 86th-minute free-kick by Kevin Sandwith which was spilled by keeper Shane McWeeney.

TRANMERE ROVERS RESERVES: McWeeney, Holmes (Denson, 37), Cressswell, Mitchell, Taylor, Henry, Jones, Beahon, Zola (Gornell, 67), Curran, Corrigan. Subs: Kennedy, Richardson, Macauley.

CHESTER CITY RESERVES: Palethorpe, Roberts, Sandwith, Vickers (Thorpe, 46), Bolland, Rule, Walker, Carroll (Ellams 87), Holroyd, McManus (Dorman, 59), Rutherford. Subs: Rowlands, Owen.

TRANMERE under-19s kept second clean sheet in succession by holding Stockport County to a goalless draw in the Youth Alliance.

A young team featur-ing eight first-year scholars defended well in the North West Conference game in which chances were few and far between at both ends.

Coach Shaun Garnett said: “It was a good point and I was pleased with the defending. The lads are improving in that area. I was not so happy with our passing and possession.

“But in making that criticism I have to repeat the majority of the boys in the team are 16 and just starting on the learning curve.”

Tranmere return to Stockport on Saturday for a Youth Alliance Cup first-round tie.

Meanwhile a series of courses for aspiring young goalkeepers across Merseyside and North Wales are being run by Tranmere Rovers goalkeeping coach John Achterberg over the coming weeks.

Dates and venues are: 1. A two-day goalkeeping course for eight-16-year-olds on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 23 and 24 at Ingleborough Training Ground, Prenton, Wirral.

2. Tuesday night coaching sessions at Levers Fields, Bromborough, Wirral from 5.30-6.30pm for six-18-year-olds.

3. Wednesday night coaching sessions at Litherland Sports Centre, Liverpool from 5.30-6.30pm for six-18-year-olds.

4. Wednesday night coaching sessions at Flint Town Football Club, North Wales, from 5.30-6.30pm for six-18-year-olds.

The courses will be an ideal opportunity for a young goalkeeper to receive expert coaching under the supervision of UEFA qualified goalkeeping coach Achterberg and others.

For course 1, an application form can be downloaded at www.tranmererovers.premiumtv.co.uk/CoachingCourses/

For courses 2, 3 and 4, email courses@tranmererovers.co.uk or telephone 0151 609 3381 for more details.

FORMER Tranmere favourites John Morrissey, Ged Brannan, Kenny Irons and Steve Mungall will be back at Prenton Park.

The quartet, and possibly Ian Muir, will answer questions and share memories from Rovers’ 1990s glory days as guests of Eric Nixon in a fans’ forum/hot-pot supper evening at the Belmont Suite, on Thursday, October 25.

The event, billed as an evening with “Johnny King’s Blue and White Soldiers” is promoted and compered by Nixon.

Tickets costing £20 are available from Nixon’s heath and fitness centre in Prenton Road West or by contacting Eric on 07843 865 873 or online at eric.n@ntlworld.com