ROVERS UNDONE BY ALEX THE GREAT
VERDICT: Tranmere failed to pick up a third straight victory due to the heroics of Chester’s brilliant keeper. Rovers’ approach has improved with the deployment of a proper winger
TRANMERE manager Micky Mellon was left miffed at his team’s failure to score against Chester after their local rivals held on for a gutsy draw in a lively local derby.
Rovers created countless opportunities but were met on several occasions by an immoveable object in the shape of Chester goalkeeper Alex Lynch.
Connor Jennings hit the post from close range late on, but the spoils were shared leaving Mellon bemused at the scoreline.
He said: “I’m very happy with the performance, but very disappointed not to take any of the chances that came our way.
“They’ve not had a chance and we’ve had six or seven real ones. I’d take one of them every game and expect to win, but that’s the way it is.
“How their goalkeeper has performed – we were laughing in the end. I’m scratching my head.”
In front of a season’s best crowd of 7,172, Rovers started in command and almost took the lead when Andy Cook’s knockdown teed up James Norwood, but his half-volley was brilliantly tipped around the post by Lynch.
A delightful chip from Jennings put Norwood in on goal, but he could not control the ball and miscued his strike on goal.
Chester’s first meaningful attempt on goal arrived in the 23rd minute, when Ross Hannah capitalised on hesitancy in the Rovers’ midfield only to fire wide.
Norwood wanted a penalty when he tangled with Seals stopper Lynch, but instead he was awarded a yellow card for simulation by referee Peter Wright.
A clever quick free-kick from Jeff Hughes put Norwood in on goal, who went round his marker before seeing his shot saved by the legs of Lynch, who recovered well to hold Cook’s header on the rebound.
The flow of the match continued in a similar vein after the interval with Tranmere totally dominant throughout.
On-loan Dylan Mottley-Henry almost made the breakthrough in the 66th minute when he got his head on the end of a Liam Ridehalgh cross, only to see Lynch brilliantly claw it off the line.
There was more from Lynch. With 20 minutes remaining a sweeping counter from the hosts saw Norwood play in substitute Gerry McDonagh, but with a debut
goal in sight, he was denied, as Chester’s inspired stopper stood tall and deflected away the shot.
When Chester did get forward, they were routinely denied by Steve McNulty, who rendered Scott Davies redundant in the Tranmere goal.
On 80 minutes Lynch was finally beaten, but saw a deflected effort from Jennings come back out off the post.
McNnulty steered a bullet header just wide before Lynch held Hughes’ curling effort as the spoils were shared.
Chester manager Marcus Bignot said: “We had a great away support. I think they can all go home (happy) because they’ve seen their team put in an unbelievable amount of work to get that result. I’m proud of every single one of them out there today.
“Our goalkeeper was superb today but I believe the harder you work, the luckier you get. The work rate, the organisation, the discipline was all there and that’s the kind of performances and results you can get away from home.”
STAR MAN: Alex Lynch (Chester) ATT: 7,172 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Peter Wright 6/10