Back to winning ways for fans' team

Last updated : 05 October 2008 By Kev Robinson
Hendy takes on a Tranmere defender before getting a cross in

Our opposition have consistently proven themselves one of the top teams in the league, finishing just outside the top 10 last season, and coming back from 3-2 down last week to beat Shrewsbury 4-3.

And with important players such as Michael Hunt and Ste Wynne sidelined after picking up injuries in the PNE game, Greavsey was forced into making several changes to his team. Martin Heys also dropped out of the team, beginning the game on the bench making room for Dean Lorriman and Simon Walton to return to the starting eleven alongside Andy Brennand.

The latter didn't last long in his first start for the team, being helped off the pitch minutes into the game after suffering a recurrence of a past knee injury. And it was the visitors who scored the opening goal of the game, somehow forcing a shot through the Clarets defence and into the back of the net.

Going behind seemed to kick Burnley into action and we carved out a number of good chances at the opposite end before Andy Wilson fired in the equaliser following a good team build-up. And there wasn't long to wait for the second as vice-captain Ged 'Oghani' Stephenson's wide free-kick somehow managed to sneak in at the far post to be followed by a spectacular Shefki Kuqi style celebratory dive.

Into the second half Tranmere were now shooting down-hill and putting more pressure on our back four. A quick break, however, saw top-scorer Ric Davies run clear of the opposition defence, round the keeper and coolly slot home to give his team a two-goal cushion. And that was needed as Tranmere pulled a goal back, and at 3-2 almost grabbed an equaliser.

Tom Henderson and Simon Walton both came close to securing the win for Burnley before Ric produced a fantastic finish from a very wide position that dipped over the keeper and into the goal at the top-corner. The final score of 4-2 ensures the Clarets go into next weekend's cup game with Rochdale on the back of a good win whilst Tranmere headed off up to Carlisle to see their team win 2-1 with the help of an early Ian Moore goal.