A return to winning ways

8:25am Monday 10th December 2007

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TRANMERE Rovers returned to winning ways in Coca Cola League One with a comprehensive 3-1 win over Bournemouth at Prenton Park.

Rovers were full value for their victory after dominating large periods of a game that was played out in terrible weather conditions on a quagmire of a pitch.

Two goals in four first-half minutes from Calvin Zola and Chris Greenacre proved to be the visiting Cherries' undoing, and Steve Jennings added a third in the second period to make the game safe.

It was a welcome three points for Ronnie Moore's side, who adapted well to the difficult playing surface and took full advantage of Bournemouth's generous defending.

This victory comes at a crucial time for a Rovers side that has been struggling to translate their excellent FA Cup form to the bread-and-butter of the league. Bournemouth, for their part, look relegation fodder and Kevin Bond has an unenviable challenge in attempting to keep the South Coast club above the relegation trapdoor.

Tranmere came flying out of the blocks, with Shane Sherriff slicing past the post from a decent position on five minutes after combining well with Calvin Zola.

With the rain-sodden pitch making the run of the ball unpredictable and the surface water making it slippery underfoot, both sides were struggling to establish any form of rhythm during an understandably error-prone opening.

Ian Goodison was handed a reprieve on eight minutes when Brett Pitman blazed a great chance over the bar after being gifted the ball in the penalty area by the Jamaican's slip and, as the heavens opened once more, the opening goal became somewhat inevitable given the treacherous conditions.

It was Rovers who deservedly drew first blood on 23 minutes. Chris Greenacre knocked the ball down for Calvin Zola, Paul Telfer looked to have intercepted the danger but failed to clear the ball, and Zola raced onto the loose ball and lobbed superbly over the advancing Gareth Stewart for 1-0.

The slippery surface looked a defender's nightmare, and Rovers doubled their advantage just four minutes later after Jennison Myrie-Williams' jinking run was halted by Warren Cummings' trip, Chris Greenacre drilling the resulting penalty down the middle with aplomb.

Pitman headed a flicked-on free-kick just past the near post on the half-hour as Bournemouth looked for a way back into the game, but given the Cherries' miserable goals-against record, it was perhaps understandable that theirs would be the most charitable defence in the conditions.

Greenacre's left-footed shot on 35 minutes was saved superbly by Stewart, but the Bournemouth goalkeeper was looking increasingly vulnerable and Tranmere remained well on top at the interval.

Bournemouth introduced Marvyn Bartley on 53 minutes, and the substitute was in the action straight away, forcing Danny Coyne into a stunning low save to his right with a stinging drive that skidded along the surface.

Although the visitors looked a little livelier at the start of the second period, they really should have been dead and buried when Myrie-Williams skipped around Stewart, but the loanee winger's smash from 15 yards ricocheted off Cummings' head and away for a corner.

The Prenton Park crowd didn't have to wait long for Rovers to add a third, however. Zola was played through down the left hand side and the Congolese forward squared for Steve Jennings to finish into the empty net.

At 3-0, Bournemouth were understandably demoralised, and Sherriff was only prevented from netting a fourth by Stewart's superb low save.

Stewart again denied Sherriff with 20 minutes remaining, this time punching away his shot from 12 yards, but at the other end, Bournemouth were back in the game after Goodison's short back-pass left Coyne stranded and the goalkeeper's clearance ricocheted into the path of Vokes for a simple finish into the unguarded net.

After the game, Ronnie Moore said: "I think we played well from start to finish. We had a lot of chances and their goalkeeper made some saves.

"I was pleased with the attitude. It was about attitude today, not pretty football, as there was a lot of water on the pitch, it was cutting up."

Globe Man of the Match: Calvin Zola - goal and assist for hard-working frontman.

Tranmere: Coyne, Kay, Chorley, Goodison (sub: Stockdale, 88 mins), Andy Taylor, Sherriff, Myrie-Williams, Jennings, McLaren, Zola, Greenacre.