Football: Aldridge sets example

Phil Andrews
Saturday 23 April 1994 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Tranmere Rovers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Aldridge 31, 47, Irons 39

Millwall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Moralee 72, Kerr 89

Attendance: 9,141

IF MILLWALL are disappointed for the second successive season in their quest for a place in the play-offs, they will reflect ruefully on Jamie Moralee's inability to score what would have been a memorable hat-trick within the space of two minutes.

Tranmere appeared to be coasting when Moralee's glancing header gave the Lions renewed heart with 20 minutes remaining. Within 60 seconds the Tranmere goalkeeper, Eric Nixon, had to fling himself into the path of Moralee's crisply hit shot from 10 yards and moments later he rounded Nixon only to pull his shot across the face of the goal.

Golden opportunities like that come in threes as infrequently as buses, and with the queue for the First Division play-off places stretching halfway down the street, Millwall will be hoping they have not missed the bus once again.

Fortunately for Tranmere, John Aldridge is an experienced traveller and his two goals took his tally to 26. The first, after 31 minutes, turned the tide when the game seemed to be flowing Millwall's way.

Millwall took the play to Tranmere, whose close passing game too often played to the strengths of a quick-tackling Millwall back four combatively marshalled by Gerry Hurlock.

Moralee and Clive Allen had both missed good chances before the unmarked Aldridge met Tony Thomas's cross with a firm header from six yards. Pat Nevin, another of the Tranmere manager John King's shrewd signings from the more fashionable side of the Mersey, then embarked on a twisting run into the box which ended with Kenny Irons sliding the ball past Kasey Keller.

Ged Brannan dispossessed that other former Liverpudlian Pat Van Den Hauwe two minutes into the second half and set up Aldridge for a simple tap in. And the former Liverpool striker twice squandered the chance of a hat-trick himself with a misplaced overhead kick and a tame header.

But in the end Moralee's misses proved the more significant, especially when the substitute John Kerr's 12-yard drive went in off the post with almost the last kick of the game.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in