Tranmere earn their first victory

10:38am Monday 18th August 2008

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A CRAIG Curran cracker on 23 minutes earned Tranmere their first victory of the new campaign as Hartlepool United were sent back to the North-East empty-handed.

Curran's superb effort from 30 yards after controlling Ed Sonko's flick-on was worthy of winning any game, and capped a much-improved performance from Ronnie Moore's side.

Indeed, with the exception of a 20-minute spell at the end of the first period, and a late rally, Hartlepool were second-best throughout the contest and could have no complaints about suffering their first defeat of the season.

For their part, Rovers looked a completely different outfit to the side which lost so disappointingly at Swindon last weekend.

The defence, which spent large periods of the game in Wiltshire is disarray, was back to somewhere near its best, thanks in large part to the return of centre-back Ian Goodison, while Antony Kay did a superb job in an unfamiliar midfield holding role.

In attack, Sonko did enough to suggest his pace and movement will be a real asset throughout the campaign, and with the likes of Chris Greenacre, Chris Shuker, Bas Savage and Gareth Edds coming back into contention after injury and illness, Moore certainly now has plenty of options as he searches for his best combination.

The opening period was a fairly disjointed affair as both sides sought to gain the ascendancy.

Most of Tranmere's early work went through the lively Sonko, and it was the Gambian international who had the first effort of the game on five minutes, forcing goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barratt into a routine save from distance.

Rovers eventually settled well. With Sonko continuing to impress up front and Kay putting a stranglehold on midfield, the hosts began to edge possession and territory, and only a couple of close offside calls brought a premature halt to moves which cut Hartlepool open.

The goal which Tranmere's approach play just about deserved arrived on 26 minutes, and was certainly worth the wait.

Sonko flicked on for fellow striker Curran to collect, and the teenager struck the perfect volley from 30 yards against the inside of the post and beyond the goalkeeper to break the deadlock.

Although Hartlepool were far from sluggish before the goal, they were certainly galvanised after falling behind. Only a superb last-ditch tackle by Andy Taylor denied dangerman James Brown a free shot on goal just before the half hour, and the visitors again came close to an equaliser a couple of minutes later when Willie Boland's goal-bound shot from the edge of the area was blocked in the six yard box by Ben Chorley.

At the other end, Ian Moore really should have done better from 25 yards after being set up by Steve Jennings and Sonko's interchange, but it was all Hartlepool as half-time approached.

The value of Kay as a shield for the Rovers defence was never more apparent than in those minutes before the interval.

With the hosts feeling the pressure, the captain twice threw his body in the way of efforts by Boland and Gary Liddell, while Coyne also saved with his legs to deny Liddell when clean through.

It's fair to say the Prenton Park crowd was relieved to hear the half-time whistle.

Although the first quarter-hour of the second period lacked some of the zest of the opening 45 minutes, Rovers were quick to regain the impetus. Sonko would have been clear for a tap-in had he controlled Antwi's cross just after the interval, Curran was denied a super second when his strike from Andy Taylor's cross was ruled out for offside, and Goodison should have done much better when heading Taylor's free-kick wide at the back post.

Hartlepool, for their part, seemed to have left the momentum they had built up towards the end of the first-half in the dressing room.

Tranmere became increasingly dominant, and looked as comfortable as any side can be with just the one-goal cushion.

Another great chance to double the advantage went begging when Sonko failed to capitalise on a three-on-two on the break, the Gambian ending his marauding run from the halfway line with a shot which was kept out by Lee-Barratt, when a pass might have left the visitors exposed, and although Chorley, Goodison and Jennings made great blocks in one attack to keep the visitors at bay, Hartlepool's ventures into the Rovers half were rare until their rally in the last 10 minutes.

Indeed, as Rovers squandered more chances to gain a two-goal cushion - Curran scuffed harmlessly into Lee-Barratt's gloves after Moore had turned Nelson superbly down the right and squared for his fellow striker - the inevitable edginess associated with defending a one-goal lead crept into the hosts' game, but although substitute David Foley went close to making them pay when he sent a gilt-edged chance inches wide with just 10 minutes remaining, Danny Coyne remained largely untested.

Globe Man of the Match: Antony Kay - offered superb protection to the defence.

Tranmere: Coyne, Antwi, Taylor, Goodison, Chorley, Kay, O'Callaghan (sub: Savage, 72 mins), Jennings, Sonko, Moore (sub: Edds, 86 mins), Curran.