Prenton Park, home of Tranmere Rovers based in Birkenhead, Merseyside and play their trade in League 2.
It’s time to rejoin the Yellow & Blue army on another away day! I’m ticking off my final League ground in Merseyside at long last in Tranmere Rovers and this could prove to be a significant day in the race for promotion to League 1.
Mansfield still in with a shot of automatics whereas Tranmere need to start winning to have a chance of the play-offs. Whatever happens I am expecting that Cowshed to be rocking with the Super Stag and Tom with me today!
So it’s onto the M1, and off and onto the A628 leading to the M56 and onto the M53 which sees me parked up… At last! With around 30 minutes till kick off. The Super Stag, Tom and Owen are in the Mersey Clipper just a stone throw away.
Here we are outside the ground and here are the lads again today! Time to see the Cowshed, £22 for this League 2 tie! Poor! The Super Stag said that I would like this concourse area… And I do! And I certainly love the noise the travelling Super Stags are making here!
Into the queue for some grub as I am famished and then… *GRAB* It’s only Vinny who has tried to scare me to death! Great to see him once again! A hot dog, bag of Maltesers and a bottle of water for £9.50 later… Erm what?! We are going in! The atmosphere is building nicely in the Cowshed!
The teams are ready! The Stags are ready! It would be a great win for us today! LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN LADS!
Kick Off! “Yellow & Blue army!” Mansfield fans continuing to sing and shout here! 5 minutes in and Mansfield give it away in their own half and Harvey Read Saunders gets into the box on the left and he shoots… Well wide! “F*****g useless!”
18 minutes on the clock and Davis Keillor-Dunn is away down the right for Mansfield, he gets into the box and shoots… Keeper parries… But the defender is there to chest it back to him.
2 minutes later and Mansfield play a quick free kick down the right, Lucas Akins is away and he plays it across and here’s Stephen Quinn… He’s missed… Big chance there from just outside the 6 yard box but I don’t think he caught it properly.
35th minute and it’s a free kick on the left for Mansfield, it’s played short, it’s played back to Quinn to cross, the header… Has it gone in…? YES IT HAS!! MANSFIELD HAVE THE LEAD!!! It’s Mr Liability himself! RILEY HARBOTTLE!!! 0-1!
“WE’RE ON OUR WAY! WE’RE ON OUR WAYYYYYY!” Me and the Super Stag trying to kill our throats with the belief that we will be in League 1 next season:
44 minutes now and Mansfield play a chipped ball through to Davis Keillor-Dunn who gets into the box on the left, he shoots… Keeper saves! Mansfield have grown into this game and have the lead at half time.
Second half, 46th minute and Tranmere play a long ball to Josh Hawkes who’s in to score… But he’s Offside! No goal for Tranmere.
55th minute now and Mansfield play a ball over the top and Ollie Clarke will get on to it in the box and he goes for the lob… It’s tipped onto the bar but here’s Keillor-Dunn for the rebound… MANSFIELD DOUBLE THEIR LEAD!!! COME ON THE STAGS!!! WOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!! 0-2!
64 minutes played now and Tranmere play it over the top looking for Jake Burton who gets it in the box and gets a shot away… great defending by Mansfield to block the shot but he’ll get another sniff… Brilliant again from the Mansfield defence and the keeper claims. Haven’t said that a lot this season…
1 minute later and Mansfield play in a long throw in from the right, it comes for Bowery to shoot… Deflected… OH WHAT A SAVE! I don’t think he knew too much about that one! Tranmere clear. Unlucky there Bowery!
Mansfield are keeping Tranmere at bay here pretty comfortably which is keeping us all happy in the Cowshed!!
Mansfield ARE seeing this game out!! It’s a great win for Mansfield who have really put on a show here today!!
Just before I make my way home, a quick pit stop for Newcastle United vs Liverpool. The Acorn in the Wirral looks good, looks fine… That song is stuck in my head after Jordan Bowery singing Do wah diddy diddy dum… That’ll do! I’ll tell you what will do: DARWIN NUNEZ AND CODY GAKPO WINNING THE GAME! COME ON YOU REDMEN!
FT: Tranmere Rovers 0-2 Mansfield Town
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 8/10 – Rocking in the Cowshed but not anywhere else in the ground.
- The Ground: 9/10 – Prenton Park is fantastic!! Really nice ground! Championship standard for me! Concourse was great, stand was great, everything is great here!!
- Expense: 8/10 – £22 I still think is a bit steep for League 2 but it’s always great when the Yellows win away!
- Overall Experience: 9/10 – Brilliant from the Stags and the fans today! And to see the Super Stag, Tom, Owen and Vinny!
34/40