No cup final this year

Maybe it was a lack of mental preparedness. Perhaps it was down to a clutch of injuries to key players, which means Martin Reilly is asked to line up on the left wing, or even because of a referee who gave free kicks only when somebody claimed loud enough. For whatever reason we just didn’t perform well in any department and I would think that the coaching staff would have had stern words after the game.

The visitors had the first chance with their forward breaking on the right and forcing a smart, low save to the left of Lee Matthews in goal. Their next attack though saw the opening goal with an attacker finding himself unmarked in space in the area to bring down a left wing cross an slam home off the post.

On fifteen minutes it should have been 2-0 but Matthews in goal was out very well off his line to drop at the feet of, and take the ball off the toes of, and onrushing attacker. Our defence was being caught out by through balls and pacy attacks and our midfield just couldn’t get a foot in as Tranmere pressed and we were lucky to avoid conceding on two more occasions.

Rob Turner had a couple of chances, firstly firing in a near post effort and then secondly he was unfortunate when the keeper got lucky on the edge of his box, as Rob broke free.

The second half saw more of the same from us as we failed to create anything of note in the early exchanges. Our first real attempt saw a long range shot from Marc Pugh deflect of Turners back to go behind as even Lady Luck decided to desert us.

We continued to concede free kicks that were, let’s just say, contentious decisions and it was from one of these – a right wing set piece – that Tranmere doubled their lead. The ball was played in deep to the far post and, again, an unmarked man was there to meet. He headed back across goal to his team mate who scuffed his shot, wrong footing Matthews, and finding the back of the net.

Our two best opportunities of the match followed as Nicky Platt firstly hit a wicked free kick, which was tipped over the bar by the keeper. Platt then followed up by meeting the corner with a solid header but this flashed over the bar.

The half hour mark saw the game beyond doubt as a quick free kick inside our left back saw the pacy number 11 released into the box and he hammered home a near post strike.

A bad day at the office for all concerned today but I’m sure the lads will pick themselves up and be ready for the next game. The form they were showing before an enforced winter break was no fluke and they all have it I them to step it up a gear and return to the free scoring, all-conquering team I was watching a couple of months ago.

Teams :- Lee Matthews, Rob Henry, Paul Casey, Jack Overson, Tom Blackler, Jay Rodriguez, Adam Kay, Nicky Platt, Martin Reilly, Marc Pugh, Rob Turner. Subs:- Dean Stott, Ash Young, Alex McDonald.