After a 5-1 reverse here last season Bournemouth were looking to attack from the off, but Tranmere were quicker and passed the ball neatly and this match was never going to be as comfortable as the Torquay game four days earlier.
John Spicer worked the first opening for the Cherries but Elliott’s cross lacked any conviction and was easily cleared. The wing wizard was constantly involved in attacks but was not showing his usual good end product. Warren Cummings whipped in a deep cross after 5 minutes only for Wade to flick it out for a goal kick. Tranmere looked to grab a goal though and when Hume was fouled by Browning down by the corner flag, Jason McAteer’s free kick was headed away from the goal line by the busy Elliott.
The first corner of the match arrived after 13 minutes after Spicer and James O’Connor had linked well down the right. Unfortunately once again Stock’s set pieces failed to have much impact, and this was to be the case all afternoon.
The best chance of the half at this point fell to Elliott who cut inside his marker and fired his left foot shot hard but straight at Rovers keeper Achterberg. Bournemouth were attacking well and from another cross Fletcher seemed to be pushed in the back and Spicer’s shot was deflected wide for another corner that came to nothing.
It was against the run of the play that on a Tranmere attack Paul Hall’s shot took a deflection off Matt Mills and wrong footed Moss to put the Prenton Park side ahead. 0-1 22 mins
Bournemouth came straight back but were getting frustrated by referee Williamson being overly picky and a stubborn Tranmere defence. Southampton loanee Mills had a great chance to equalise but put his header well over from Stock’s corner. Cummings cleared well when Hall was almost clear through and Cherries were getting back on top. Garreth O’Connor was crudely fouled by Rankine and Stock’s short free kick found the Irishman who fired a 20 yard effort inches high.
The Bournemouth defence were comfortable with Maher looking more solid with each passing game. This enabled further attacks and from an Elliott cross Mills, who had ventured forward, outjumped the Rovers defence and goalkeeper to head the equaliser. 1-1 43 mins
There was still time before the break to score again but Dagnall for Tranmere dragged his shot wide when through on goal, and Elliott wasted a good chance for the home side.
HT: 1-1
Tranmere came out the brightest after their half time cuppa and Hume blasted a shot wide. Spicer crossed for Fletcher who flicked on but alas Wade needed another few inches in height to head it in! Michael Jackson (no, not that one!) was then booked for a poor challenge on Fletch from behind and Wade showed the Tranmere defence a bit of Billy Elliott down the right but his cross was too deep. (Thanks to Mark and Mike for that one!).
The ref was really having a poor game and penalised Spicer for attempting to win the ball from Goodison who was blatently obstructing him. Jason McAteer was then substituted for Danny Harrison. James O’Connor was getting forward and his cross caused trouble in the Rovers box but again our corner was easily cleared. Without the second striker we were struggling for efforts on goal and Mills tried his luck from fully 40 yards but the ball almost cleared the North Stand!
Tranmere looked like they were settling for a point and only had the occasional probe forward, but we lacked the cutting edge to finish them off. Theodore Whitmore then replaced Dagnall as the Dean Court faithful called for Hayter to be brought on to no avail. Ian Sharps was then booked for dissent as Tranmere looked to deaden the game. Another Cummings run ended with Spicer’s fantastic cross being volleyed high and wide by Wade.
For me, we did not look positive enough and Stock delayed taking his free kick which broke our attack down once again for Tranmere to clear easily. Too many times our crosses missed their target or the ref blew his whistle for innocuous tackles. Goodison became the third Rovers player in the book when he took Elliott out when through down the wing.
Sean finally brought Hayter on with 12 minutes to play. Stock and Elliott had both looked tired so it was a surprise when James replaced the industrious Garreth O’Connor. Our top scorer was immediately in the action and did well to win another corner which again was cleared to safety. As the game petered out, Hume was replaced by Jones in stoppage time and Elliott was put in a great position to win it but instead of shooting, he crossed the ball poorly and out of play.
A frustrating day really, when you thought we should go for the win but ended up with 1 point. Playing one striker doesn’t really send out the right message in my opinion and with Hull and Luton still to visit here, I hope we can learn lessons from today. Definitely 2 points lost.
AFCB: Moss; James O’Connor, Mills, Maher, Cummings; Spicer, Garreth O’Connor (Hayter 78), Stock, Elliott, Browning; Fletcher.
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Rodrigues, Connell, Coutts.
Stuart Mitchell, West Moors