MATCH REPORT: Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Oldham Athletic
Oldham v Tranmere became somewhat of a rivalry as the two teams spent many years together in League One. However, following the Super White Army’s relegation to League Two in 2014, the teams hadn’t played each in four years. With Tranmere now flying in League Two and Oldham looking to regain the form they had early in the season, it promised to be an entertaining match – and the fans weren’t disappointed.
In a feisty first half, neither side took real control of the game. Oldham perhaps showed slight dominance, but Tranmere looked dangerous on the counter attack, creating a real end-to-end game of football. Balls were flying towards each penalty area, but the two defences stood strong. Ollie Banks tried some efforts from long range, but wildly miscued them; much to the enjoyment of the away fans – it’s fair to say the ex-Latics player wasn’t the most popular player on the pitch.
Out and out chances were few and far between but in the 40th minute, Latics took what few chances they’d had. Gevaro Nepomuceno’s corner was nodded away from George Edmundson at the near post but found Branger-Engone sweeping the edge of the penalty area who took a touch before he coolly slotted the ball through a crowd and into the bottom left corner.
Tranmere came out in the second half looking much more determined and almost found an equaliser in the 49th minute when the ball pinballed around the penalty area – Daniel Iversen was, however, at hand to hold onto the ball.
The first 20 minutes of the half was all Tranmere, with the home side regularly trying their luck on goal, but Norwood looked to half an off day and Jennings just didn’t have luck on his side. Oldham really should have punished Tranmere’s missed opportunities in the 70th minute. Sam Surridge was played through by Callum Lang and probably could have beaten the keeper if he decided to shoot immediately, however the young striker decided to try and round the goalkeeper and the angle just didn’t appear for him.
Two minutes later Tranmere found and equaliser. Norwood hit a poor freekick into the wall, but the ball was kept alive by Tranmere and found Jennings 12 yards from goal. This time he wasn’t so unlikely as he hit a lovely curling effort into the top right-hand corner of the net.
It was a nervy final 15 minutes of the game as Tranmere looked to use their momentum to snatch all 3 points. The Latics defence held up well – George Edmundson, in particular, had another impressive performance. Despite pressure from Tranmere and a last-minute corner for Oldham (that was bizarrely taken short), neither side could find a winner and both sets of fans would probably agree that a draw was the fair result.
FULL TIME: Tranmere Rovers (Jennings 72’) 1 – 1 Oldham Athletic (Branger-Engone 40’)
Attendance: 7150 (Away: 1341)
Tranmere Rovers: Davies, McNulty ©, Monthe, Mullin (Stockton 86’), Norwood, Jennings, McCullough, Caprice, Mottley-Henry, Bakayogo, Banks
Oldham Athletic: Iversen, Hunt, Clarke ©, Edmundson, Taylor, Branger-Engone (Surridge 64’), Lyden (Missilou 86’), Gardner, Nepomuceno, Lang, Miller (O’Grady 78’)
words Chris Stringer, D3D4 Oldham Athletic correspondent
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