Stoke City loanee Kevin Harper came right in to the starting line up for this important League One game against Tranmere with Peter Murphy and Kev Gray rekindling their partnership in defence.
Chris Billy took a place on the bench to accommodate the changes to the first eleven, with all eyes on how Harper, Hackney and Gall would shape up in support of Beckford up front.
The game started with Jermaine Beckford on the receiving end of some close attention, with the Referee seemingly giving him very little in the way of protection at all. He was awarded a free kick in the 5th minute, however, but Peter Murphy could only drive his shot in to the arms of Gavin Ward.
Chris McCready would go in the book in the 6th minute as he hauled Beckford to the floor, having been beaten for pace out wide, and Kev Gray diverted the ball wide when the delivery from the set piece came in.
A mistake by McAteer in the middle of the park allowed Hackney to go on a run in the 7th minute, and he went for the top corner as he committed defenders in front of him. He had options left and right and his shot left him having to explain himself as the ball drifted wide of the target.
At the other end a testing cross from Shuker found Ellison racing in, and United needed the woodwork to prevent the early opening goal from going to the visitors.
Peter Murphy was on the end of a high Lumsdon corner in the 12th minute as Carlisle kept knocking on the door, but his header lacked direction and sped harmlessly wide.
Kev Gall came close to catching Ward unawares on 20 minutes when he caught a volley on the full, smashing the ball goalwards towards the bottom corner. The Tranmere keeper reacted smartly, managing to get down and put enough on the ball to turn it behind for a corner. Hackney was next to open things up when he turned two of his markers inside out as he ran on to a neat pass from Harper, but the Rovers back line cleared up despite the blue shirts converging on their area.
Hackney was having an influential game and he created a shooting chance for Beckford in the 27th minute when he raced away and cut the ball inside. The United striker threw his foot through it but the shot was weak and Ward was able to drop on to it with ease.
There was to be a chance at either end in the 29th minute when Paul Arnison hesitated in the Tranmere box, losing the moment, but substitute Steve Davies was just as wasteful when he rattled a long range shot well wide when he could have taken much more time to line things up.
Aranalde almost put United ahead in the 32nd minute when Harper was fouled on the edge of the box. Lumsdon sent the free kick in and Ward completely misjudged it, leaving the left back a clear run at his header. Unfortunately it had too much on it and he could only power it wide.
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5th of the campaign |
The threat from Tranmere was all about Chris Shuker and his delivery in to the box, and he found another in the 43rd minute that had Davies stretching in hopes of an easy tap in. The defenders were beaten by the delivery, but the Rovers man couldn't get the vital touch and could only poke it behind for a goal kick.
Arnison and Murphy were needed just before half time as Tranmere threatened again, and the pair closed ranks to prevent Greenacre from doing any damage. Greenacre was the man on the spot once more in time added on when Davies flicked on a near post ball, but he'd left his run far too late and was guilty of spurning another opportunity. The final passage of play saw McLaren finally get on to a Mullin free kick but Westwood had watched it all the way and was able to palm it in to the ground before gathering it to his chest.
Half Time: United 1 - 0 Tranmere
Another lively start to the second half saw Tranmere imposing themselves on the game with some meaty challenges, and Danny Harrison was fortunate to escape with just the yellow card when Hackney sprinted away to go one on one with Ward. Harrison tugged him back, but Mr Oliver decided that there were other defenders on hand, and showed leniency.
Murphy took the free kick, beating the wall, but Ward was there once more to do his job. Paul Arnison needed to be at his best two minutes later when Greenacre spotted the tall Davies in space at the back post. He would have had a great opportunity to score but the United right back made sure he got their first, heading it over his own bar.
Chris Shuker showed just how dangerous he can be on 53 minutes when he drfited in to the box and beat Aranalde with a drop of the shoulder. He got on to the ball nicely but couldn't find an angle to get it past Westwood, and the big keeper gratefully plucked it out of the air and quickly set his side on the front foot again with a kick out to the flanks.
Murphy headed a Lumsdon corner wide and McLaren put a shot at Westwood, but it was Tranmere who were enjoying the bulk of the possession in midfield. McDonald tried to counter that by bringing Billy on for Hackney, looking for some bite and to slow things down in that important area of the pitch.
There was a real moment of worry in the 71st minute when a Greenacre flick caused all sorts of problems in the box as yellow shirts moved sharply in an attempt to get the killer touch. Paul Thirlwell eased the pressure with a clattering clearance that robbed Davies of the easy chance he would otherwise have had.
Tranmere were claiming a goal in the 76th minute when an inswinging corner appeared to have whipped its way through a packed 6 yard box and crossed the line. The Referee was having none of it though, having already blown for a free kick against the Rovers forwards.
A pulled muscle for Paul Arnison signalled the end of his game as he had to be replaced by Danny Livesey, and McDonald brought Holmes on for Harper at the same time with United looking to get back in the ascendency.
Kevin Gray protected his goal at the expense of a corner in the 84th minute when Tranmere were breaking through, and the big defender took no prisoners as he smacked the ball out of the ground. Westwood had to punch the corner clear and then save with his feet as it came straight back at him, and it was a nervy ending the home fans were having to endure as Tranmere tried to throw everything forward. Peter Murphy cut out yet another cross from Davies with 4 minutes left as the bench urged the lads on to give everything in defence of the points.
It was a battling performance by United, who had to dig deep in the second half, but the defence did their job immaculately by limiting Tranmere to hopeful shots rather than clear cut chances. The run of 3 League defeats was brought to an end with exactly the type of performance that the manager would have asked for. Kev Gall's strike was good enough to win any game, and the attitude shown by new arrival Kev Harper suggests that he is going to have an enjoyable month up North. It's a long trip to Gillingham next weekend, but with the side back to winning ways it should be another entertaining away day.
Goals
United - Gall (35)
Bookings
United - Hackney (30)
Tranmere - McCready (6), Harrison (50), Shuker (84), Goodison (90)
Teams
United - Westwood, Arnison (Livesey 77), Gray, Murphy, Aranalde, Lumsdon, Thirlwell, Hackney (Billy 66), Harper (Holmes 77), Beckford, Gall. Subs - Williams, Hindmarch.
Tranmere - Ward, Stockdale, McLaren, Sherriff, McAteer (Taylor 66), Mullin (Harrison 49), Greenacre, Ellison (Davies 14), Goodison, McCready, Shuker. Subs - Achterberg, Tremarco.
Away Fans - 487
