LOWE HITS HEIGHTS AGAIN FOR ROVERS
VETERAN Ryan Lowe did the business once again for Tranmere as he headed home a late equaliser to deny gutsy Oldham.
It was 35-year-old Lowe’s 18th goal of the season, and it came after Jake Cassidy had flung over a peach of a cross with15 minutes to go
he point just about keeps the relegation places at bay for Rovers during the continuing absence of suspended boss Ronnie Moore, a situation which left the hosts’ caretaker boss John McMahon to reflect positively after a hard-fought fixture at Prenton Park.
McMahon said:“Obviously Oldham started well and had us pinned back a little bit, but once Jason had brought us level I thought we were in control then.
“It was frustrating for us when they went and got a fortunate goal. At that point I felt we were pushing for the victory and then a cross comes over and there's absolutely nothing young Liam can do about that one.
“I had every confidence in the lads to respond, though, and I thought we had done enough to maybe have nicked it by the end.
“Ryan’s done what he's best at. He's met Jake’s cross perfectly and placed the ball past the 'keeper with superb accuracy really. He's just deadly in front of goal like that.”
Oldham enjoyed the better of the first-half exchanges, but were pegged back by a fortunate Rovers goal after James Wesolowski's thunderbolt had given them the lead.
The visitors surged ahead after 12 minutes when Aussie midfielder Wesolowski smashed clinically past Owain fon Williams following a neat one-two with Gary Harkins.
Danny Philliskirk and Harkins had also gone close for the Latics, but Rovers got lucky when they levelled matters on the half-hour mark.
Lowe teed up Jason Koumas, and his low, driven shot flicked up off Jonathan Grounds' boot and looped over Mark Oxley to make it 1-1.
The visitors restored their lead with their own lucky strike after 58 minutes.
This time David Worrall crossed in low, and when the ball wasn’t cleared it struck the shin of Tranmere defender Liam Ridehalgh and before trickling past fon Williams.
Lowe was to have the final word, however, levelling clinically to deny Oldham, whose boss Lee Johnson was at least pleased with his players’ response to a dismal home midweek defeat against MK Dons.
Johnson said: “I thought we played some really good stuff at times.We were a real threat going forward I thought, and because of that I’m disappointed.
“I don’t normally like using the word unlucky, but I certainly felt we should have had a penalty in the first half for the push on Danny Philliskirk.
“That’s by the by though, you don’t always get them and rather than looking back at that kind of thing, I’m happy to credit my players for their application.
“It just wasn’t good enough in midweek against MK Dons, but we’ve moved on already and I think we’ve sent our fans home happy.”