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We lined up 4-4-2 with fit again Rob Turner partnering Wes Fletcher up top. Alex MacDonald was left on the bench despite his publicised invite to train with the senior squad, which meant the right wing berth was taken by Dil Chaggar. Adam Kay was missing from the 16 due to an injury picked up in the week meaning that Dean Stott at right back was given the captain's armband.
No sooner had the game got underway than we were a goal down. Tranmere forced a corner and when it was swung over from the far side an opposition target rose unchallenged and headed goalwards. Jon Sergeant made a good saved but his parry fell to the same opponent, who reacted before anyone else to stab home.
We attempted to hit back with a direct free kick from Alex-Ray Harvey from 30 yards but it dipped just over the bar. We were then treated to a period of scrappy midfield attrition. It was almost half an hour before a serious chance was created by either side with Rob Turner hitting the side netting with a volleyed attempt from a corner.
Tranmere had a number of long range shots but never tested Sergeant in the nets. On the stroke of half time a moment of brilliance from Fletcher almost saw us draw level but the keeper saved his effort well.
The second half started and saw us in the ascendancy. For fifteen minutes we were controlling the game, but we were never really hitting the target. Fletcher again brought the best out of the keeper as a howitzer was tipped over, and Turner was unfortunate with a James Craggs cross finding him at the near post, but caught in two minds.
We looked to shake it up a little and brought on Dom Knowles for Turner on the hour mark. All that happened though was Tranmere came more into it, forcing a couple of corners. We got a little physical to try and quell the uprising and Chris Anderson was booked for a late lunge.
More changes were then forthcoming as Oliver Devenney and MacDonald took to the field. As has been mentioned there seems to be an amazing upsurge in confidence in the youngsters who train with the seniors and MacDonald displayed this early, ambitiously taking on a free kick from over 30 yards and almost finding the Astroturf.
The changes did serve to give us a more direct attacking threat though and we pressured constantly till the final whistle. Anyone leaving early to try and remain dry missed the most action packed portion of the game as MacDonald dazzled the defence, only to see his effort hit the post. Nik Kudiersky, thrown up front, saw a header flash inches wide, a Thomas Bradley cross shot was deflected goalwards but was cleared off the line and another effort from MacDonald was deflected wide. Our siege though didn't pay dividends and the game ended with our visitors victorious.
Team:- Jon Sergeant, Dean Stott, Thomas Bradley, Dan Brown, Nik Kudiersky, Chris Anderson, Dil Chaggar (Oliver Devenney), Alex-Ray Harvey, James Craggs (Alex MacDonald), Rob Turner (Dom Knowles), Wes Fletcher.
Subs not used:- Stef Ritchie, Chris Lynch.