Happy Moore hails Rovers’ return to top of the table

Oct 27 2007 by James Pearce, Liverpool Daily Post

MANAGER Ronnie Moore saluted his players after Tranmere Rovers regained top spot in League One with a comfortable victory over Huddersfield at Prenton Park.

Having drawn their previous three home games and seen their 10-game unbeaten run ended by a 1-0 defeat at Swindon, Moore was desperate to see Rovers return to winning ways on home soil and they did not disappoint.

From the moment Paul McLaren scored his first goal of the season on the half hour the outcome rarely looked in doubt.

Defender Shane Sherriff headed home the second early in the second half and striker Gareth Taylor made Rovers’ dominance count with a third late on.

Moore said: “It’s nice to bounce back from last Saturday and it’s a big thing for us to go back to the top of the league.

“It’s a big bonus for the lads and they know what’s at stake.

“I thought we were the better side and I was just a bit disappointed when we went 2-0 up that we tended to sit a little bit when we should have kept on the front foot.

“There were two great finishes from set-pieces and it’s nice when you work on things in training and then get your rewards.

He said: “I thought we had enough of the play to even get a couple more goals, while we defended well and limited them to few chances.”

Moore made two changes to the side beaten 1-0 at Swindon as he handed a debut to loan signing from Cardiff City Kevin Cooper on the left wing and recalled Mike Jones on the right.

Carl Tremarco and Steve Jennings dropped to the bench, with Chris Shuker again missing out due to injury.

The Terriers were languishing in 16th place and had won just one of their previous eight games but they held their own in the early stages.

Former Everton striker Danny Cadamarteri was the first to threaten when he cut in menacingly from the left flank but then dragged his shot well wide.

At the other end McLaren failed to hit the target with a rasping drive from the edge of the box, while then a quick free-kick caught the visitors napping but Chris Greenacre was denied by a goal-saving tackle from Joe Skarz.

As the half progressed Rovers began to take control and McLaren’s perfectly slid pass released Greenacre but his shot flew across goal and wide of the far post. The pressure began to mount and the breakthrough arrived just before the half hour mark after the Terriers failed to deal with Ian Goodison’s long punt into the box.

Taylor and Greenacre won two aerial challenges and the ball dropped invitingly for McLaren to rifle into the net from 14 yards.

Rovers grew in confidence and the visitors were fortunate not to fall further behind before the break.

Antony Kay embarked on a surging run from midfield and unleashed a powerful 25-yarder which Matt Glennon gathered at the second attempt.

McLaren was involved in everything and on 40 minutes his neat pass teed up Greenacre whose powerful shot was tipped over.

Rovers’ only problems were of their own making and they suffered a real scare just before the interval.

Keeper Danny Coyne’s scuffed clearance went straight to Malvin Kamara 35 yards from goal. The net was gaping but he could only dispatch a weak effort straight into Coyne’s welcoming arms.

The hosts started the second half where they left off and should have doubled their tally inside two minutes. Cooper’s cross picked out McLaren at the near post but Glennon somehow kept his shot out.

Rovers didn’t have to wait long for a second goal as on 52 minutes McLaren’s corner was flicked on by Ben Chorley and Sherriff rose highest at the back post to nod home.

Moore’s side were threatening to run riot and Kay missed a glorious chance to make it 3-0 when he blazed over.

Spurred on by the chants of ‘what a load of rubbish’ from their travelling fans, the Terriers did at least show some fight.

Striker Luke Beckett was denied by a great last-ditch tackle from the immaculate Goodison and then Holdsworth’s 25-yarder flew just over.

With eight minutes to go Rovers got the third goal their performance deserved and McLaren was again the provider as his corner was headed home by Taylor.