Alliance Affairs - Preston and Tranmere just keep winning

Last updated : 19 November 2002 By Peter Heywood

After a seemingly endless run of postponements it was good to see a completed fixture list at last. The surfaces may not have been ideal, but were certainly playable, and some interesting performances ensued.

We’ve already said that it’s beginning to look like a two-horse race for the title, once more involving Preston and Tranmere, and the results further emphasised this point with both sides recording emphatic victories.

The Lilywhites took on neighbours Blackpool at the Preston Sports Arena and came out easy 3-0 winners. In what coach Simon Davey described as "the best passing display the side have put in this season" North End dominated the game, with goalie Chris Neal not having to make a single save. Striker Kelvin Langmead and influential captain Darren Kempson were both missing injured, but the Lilywhites still were far too strong for a Blackpool side that has still to record a league win. 6’7" Fola Onibuje started the scoring, with Ben Kitchen and Michael Brown adding the others.

This was Preston’s thirteenth game unbeaten at U-19 level, but if anything Tranmere’s record is more impressive. Poor Bury were the latest to be on the receiving end of a thrashing, going down 7-0 as the Rovers managed to improve their incredible five goals a game average this season. Paul Robinson recorded his third hat-trick in the last four games (he also missed a penalty), with Karl Dunbar, Joe Fowler, Carl Tremarco and Alan Griffiths completing the Shakers’ misery.

Performance of the week though possibly goes to Stockport who thumped Oldham 5-1. The Hatters have struggled since their arrival in this division of the Conference, but finally came good on Saturday at their Manor Farm training ground. Jamie Baguley scored twice, with Gareth Walsh, Mattie Davis and David Holt getting the others. Craig Fleming replied for the visitors.

The ever-unpredictable Carlisle ended Wigan’s recent run of good form with a 1-0 win, a result which moves them above their opponents into third place. Given the way the season is unfurling, this will effectively be the prize for the remainder of the division as the one remaining place available for qualification to the Merit League.

Finally to the Clarets’ entertaining 2-1 win against Rochdale. Following Terry Pashley’s confirmation that our second goal was put in by a Dale defender and not Ryan Townsend’s big toe we’ve had to reluctantly expunge our Antipodean defender from the records. Sorry, Ryan!

This weekend’s fixtures:

Blackpool v Burnley (11am)
Bury v Preston
Oldham v Tranmere
Rochdale v Carlisle
Wigan v Stockport

Leading reported league scorers:

11 Paul Robinson (Tranmere)
9 Kelvin Langmead (Preston)
5 Lee Hamilton (Carlisle)
4 Matthew Blinkhorn (Blackpool)
4 Michael Kewley (Preston)
4 Chris Dagnall (Tranmere)

Youth Alliance League Table

Burnley's Fixtures and Results