Tranmere Rovers signed off a memorable 2018 with a 0-0 draw at home to Yeovil Town. Rovers were unable to find a way past the Glovers defence but all in all, it has been a year to remember for the Super White Army.
Tranmere welcomed back captain Steve McNulty into the starting line-up, replacing Manny Monthe in the heart of the defence.
Playing their final fixture of 2018, Tranmere had two early opportunities through the division’s top goal scorer, James Norwood.
Inside two minutes of the opening ten, the striker had clear vision of the Yeovil goal but couldn’t worry former Gillingham shot stopper Stuart Nelson.
At the other end of the field, nippy winger Jordan Green got the right side of the TRFC defence from the right channel but his strike, inside the penalty box, was parried away by Scott Davies.
After a quiet 20 minute spell, the game sprung to life as Cole Stockton, who was looking to build on his goal from the victory against Morecambe, stung Nelson’s palms with a fierce strike from just inside the ‘D’.
Defender Mark Ellis, who has started the past three games prior to the match against the Glovers, came within inches of his first goal for the Club, connecting with a header from a Jake Caprice free-kick after the full back initially won the set-piece for Rovers.
Yeovil however should have taken the lead just before the half time whistle, Yoann Arquin missing from point blank range after a defensive mishap for TRFC opened a goal scoring opportunity for the Somerset side.
The second half started frantically and within 30 seconds, Stockton had an effort cleared off the line after keeper Nelson dropped the ball in a precarious position.
Tranmere were on the hunt for a goal, and the same duo who created the best memory of 2018, the Play-Off winning goal, Jennings and Norwood, nearly linked up for the opener, as Jennings swung the ball into the path of Norwood to see a header pushed away for a corner.
On the hour mark, Mellon made his first change, Jonny Smith replacing Stockton. The winger, on loan from Bristol City, had his first shot within a couple of minutes, but couldn’t hit the target.
A second change followed nine minutes later and a switch in formation, as Paul Mullin came on for Ritchie Sutton.
Tranmere continued to push for a goal as Yeovil looked dangerous on the counter attack, with Norwood having a late header saved but the score finished 0-0 and TRFC move on to the New Year’s Day game at Macclesfield Town.
Tranmere: Davies, Ellis, Sutton (Mullin 69), McNulty, Caprice, Ridehalgh, Harris, McCullough, Jennings, Stockton (Smith 60), Norwood: Unused subs: George, Buxton, Bakayogo, Gilmour, Cole.
Attendance: 5,782 (109 away)