Kamp 13/4:
Tranmere - Hereford 2-1 (2-0)
TR: Bas Savage 8, Charlie Barnett 27
HU: Stephen Guinan pen 90
Play-off dream on but danger is lurkingTRANMERE kept their promotion challenge on track with a 15th home win of the League One campaign at the expense of Hereford – but ran through a flashing danger signal on the way.
The straight red card shown to Ian Goodison for a tackle on Marc Pugh midway through the second half is likely to lead to a suspension that keeps the influential Jamaican defender out of Rovers’ three remaining fixtures.
Tranmere were two goals up thanks to first-half strikes by Bas Savage and Charlie Barnett by the time Goodison departed.
The 10 men were able to protect the three precious points through an uncomfortable final 20 minutes, then conceded a consolation goal to the Bulls to a controversial last-minute penalty, converted by Steve Guinan.
The victory kept Tranmere in sixth place, two points ahead of Scunthorpe, 3-2 winners at Hartlepool yesterday, who have two games in hand.
But Ronnie Moore’s team are sure to miss the defensive strength of Goodison in the crucial encounters with fifth placed Leeds United on Saturday, not to mention a potential showdown with Scunthorpe on the final day of the regular season.
The afternoon was going to plan before Goodison went sliding into a challenge on Pugh with his studs showing.
Tranmere had too much class and invention for a weakened Hereford line-up in the first half. Relegation is all but a mathematical certainty for the Bulls, who have struggled all season to hold their own at League One level on limited resources.
Rovers’ football went off the boil at half-time but they looked comfortable enough until being reduced to 10 men.
The home side made the positive side they were looking for by scoring after eight minutes.
They might have gone ahead two minutes earlier when Hereford goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi – on loan from Liverpool – dropped the ball after collecting a cross from Ryan Shotton, enabling Ian Moore to set up Kay, whose side-footed shot from a dozen yards was deflected just wide.
But the visitors’ defence was opened up two minutes later by a clever lofted pass from Moore that sent Savage galloping clear into the box to guide a low shot under the body of the advancing Gulacsi.
Tranmere were in firm control of the contest when they added a second goal on 26 minutes, through another fine move. This time Barnett reaped the benefit of sharp passes from Ed Sonko and Ryan Shotton before curling a first-time shot into the top corner from 16 yards.
Tranmere goalkeeper Danny Coyne was brought into the action for the first time on 39 minute when he went sprawling to his right to cover a well-struck 20-yarder from Pugh.
Soon afterwards Sonko almost caught Gulacsi out with a well disguised cross-shot from the right that the goalkeeper managed to deflect into the side netting two minutes before half time.
Tranmere were forced into a change at the interval with Gareth Edds replacing midfielder Steve Jennings, who was suffering from a breathing problem.
As Rovers continued to dominate, persistent work by Savage presented Edds with the opportunity to drive in a low shot that Gulacsi blocked with his chest on 57 minutes.
Two minutes later Tranmere were given a warning about becoming too complacent as Hereford carved out a clear-cut opening. Stephen O’Leary, once a loan player at Prenton Park, should have scored when Guinan set him up at the far post. But the midfielder’s header lacked power and Coyne was able to stretch across to make a save.
Just when the afternoon looked like becoming a stroll for Tranmere they were reduced to 10 men with the dismissal of Goodison. Referee Nigel Miller, who was close to the Jamaican’s tackle on Pugh, reached straight for the red card.
Tranmere’s anxiety soon showed as they struggled to deal with a couple of Hereford raids. Guinan had a chance to pull a goal back on 75 minutes but couldn’t keep his shot down from the edge of the box. Coyne then made a fingertip intervention to keep substitute Simon Johnson’s cross away from Guinan.
The game was deep into the final minute of injury time when Miller judged that Shotton’s tackle on winger, Jennison Myrie-Williams was a trip and pointed to the spot. After the protests of the home players had been waved away, Guinan converted the penalty but there was no time left on the watch for the action to be restarted.
