Tranmere ladies are focus of weekend’s attention

Mar 24 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

WITH no game for Liverpool and Everton’s game with Watford being called off, the focus locally centred on Tranmere’s battle with the drop.

Rovers took on Sunderland – the Black Cats had already beaten them in the league and knocked them out of the FA Cup in December.

But as Rovers manager Shirley Waring had predicted, it was the team from the North West that took the spoils.

In a gritty encounter at Poulton Victoria, the scores were tied at 2-2, with the Rovers goals coming from fit-again Vicky Abbott.

Defender Lindsay Smith’s strike from long range right at the death sealed the three points, and has kept Tranmere in the Northern Division.

And manager Waring was delighted to secure their status at the first time of asking.

“I’m ecstatic to be honest,” said a delighted Rovers manager. “We went 1-0 down, then 2-1 down. So we fought our way back and then scored a 90th-minute winner. We scored and they then had no chance to get back into it. It was really good stuff today.

“I did predict 2-1 with a last minute winner, but 3-2 will do fine. But it’s good that something’s come good for us for a change.”

Rovers had three games left in the season to pick up the solitary win they needed to stay in the Northern Division, and Waring knew that was the important thing.

“That was it today; we needed three points. In the predicament we were in, we knew it was in our own hands. We wanted it all sorted as soon as possible and now we can relax going into our final two games now.

“The girls have worked hard all season. We’ve been inconsistent this year. But we thoroughly got what we deserved.”

More good news for Tranmere was the return to form of Abbot, after she bagged a brace following her successful return from a serious knee injury.

If Rovers can keep her fit, they should have no problems come next season.

Everton play on Wednesday evening, as they host Blackburn Rovers at Marine at 7.30pm.