Scunthorpe United v Tranmere

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

English League Cup

Scunthorpe United :
Musselwhite, Stanton, Crosby, Butler (Corden 74), Williams, Sparrow (Taylor 45), Hinds, Richie Ryan, Beagrie, Sharp, Torpey (Johnson 46)
Subs not used:
Parton, Keogh

Tranmere :
Achterberg, Jackson, Sharps, Goodison, Jennings, Rankine (Bruce 70), Harrison, Gareth Roberts, Aiston, Greenacre, Davies (Hume 67)
Subs not used:
Wilson, Whitmore, Linwood

SULSESC REPORT

by Bob Dook at Glanford Park

TAKING an extended stay in the UK, the first in a long time, I had the opportunity to catch the League Cup round one match against the blue and whites from Birkenhead.

Not many decided to do likewise, with a disappointing sized crowd of 2,700. Nevertheless, I had the pleasure to watch the match with a representative from SULSESC's Manchester Chapter, namely Darren.

The pre-match talk was of Billy Sharp, making his home debut. Was this the signing that many of us had hoped for? A striker capable of 20+ goals per season? After watching his club debut in Nottingham against Forest, I was convinced it was.

The Iron started well and Sharp had a couple of chances that the 'keeper did well to deal with. One was a quick thinking shot towards the bottom corner and the other a flashing close range header. Beagrie hit a post with a free-kick. We saw little (no pun intended) of Tranmere and the first-half ended up 0-0. Musselwhite had palmed over a long range shot, but the Merseysiders were disappointing, particularly as many have fancied them to do well this season.

Tommy Johnson replaced Torpey at the break, who had gone down just before half-time, with a leg problem. It would later prove to be serious, but at the time looked innocuous.

Richie Ryan was proving to be useful, with his reading of the game and good range of passing. Being critical, he is a little too left-footed and loses the ball in possession too many times, but overall looks a decent player and adds a creative dimension to midfield, which is a tad lacking with Hinds and Baraclough in combination. The latter had been rested for this match.

Just after I finished telling Darren that the last thing I wanted was for us to be drawing at full-time, with the prospect of extra time and penalties tiring us out, we go and score. It was a pleasant move to watch, Sharp working himself into the right-hand side of the box and then cleverly laying the ball across to the penalty spot for Ryan to rush in and beat the diving 'keeper easily.

It wasn't long before Tranmere equalised with a move initiating in their penalty area. The ball was worked upfield, eventually finding its way out wide right, where Sam Aiston (him of the Sheldon tackle at Gay Meadow) easily beat Williams to deliver a fine cross for Sharps (Tranmere's centre back) to crash in a fine shot.

So we were back to potential extra-time and penalties. Another discussion with Darren, this time regarding the risk of injury in these cup games, was spookily followed by Butler injuring himself in a seemingly far more serious way than Torpey had done earlier. From what appeared to be a tackle from behind, which he missed, he appeared to catch his studs and twist his leg. Stretcher job. Hinds dropped back, Beagrie moved inside and Corden came on to play wide left.

Close to the 90 minutes, a scramble in the box, the ball breaks free, who is there to bang it in? 'Sniffer' Hinds! What a star this bloke is. One minute midfield, next centre back and finally goalscorer. Sharp hit the crossbar with a shot deep in stoppage time, as Tranmere faded badly. Chris Greenacre hardly showed and overall they were disappointing.

Final word goes to Mussy. His last minute save, of the highest quality, down to his left, reminds me that while many sing the praises of Billy Sharp, let's not forget that we have a superb goalkeeper at the other end. Sharp didn't score in this match, but Mussy kept us in the League Cup with two excellent saves.