Below is an update on how things have gone this week (week commencing 18th March) in the world of e-Sports for TRFC.
PS4 Team
Results
VPG Championship South - TRFC esports 2-0 RB Gunners
It was a quiet week this week for the PS4 side with just two games being played instead of the usual three. This was due to Scunthorpe esports rescheduling the Thursday night game for the following Monday.
The first match of the week saw the PS4 team face off against fourth place side RB Gunners, who had won their last three games.
Gunners showed why they had won their last three in the third minute, forcing a save from Tranmere keeper AutoKorrect. That was a warning to the Tranmere lads and they quickly settled down into the game, restricting RB Gunners to efforts from distance.
With their first attack of the game, the PS4 side opened the scoring. Rhys Conroy showed quick feet to bamboozle a defender on the right of the box before firing a left foot shot inside the goalkeeper’s near post.
This seemed to have an effect on the RB Gunners keeper as a howler allowed the PS4 team to make it two with 37 minutes gone. A long ball by Jamie Scott was somehow missed by the keeper giving Keith Burke the simple task of tapping into an empty net.
From then on, the game was contested fairly evenly, though Jamie Scott should have made it 3-0 with ten minutes left. This was the only real chance of the second half and the game finished 2-0 to the PS4 team.
VPG Championship South - TRFC esports 2-2 Esports The Reds
The second game of the night was a huge one with the PS4 team taking on their nearest challengers Esports The Reds. A win for The Reds would see them leapfrog the PS4 team into top spot in the VPG Championship South.
It was Tranmere who started the brighter of the two teams, Curtis Aaron forcing a great save out of the Reds keeper with 12 minutes on the clock. 11 minutes later, the PS4 side did manage to take the lead. Shane Dempsey played a lovely through ball into the feet of Lee Marsh and the striker fired the ball in at the near post. It remained that way until half-time but Tranmere could have perhaps been 3-0 up, Keith Burke missing two golden opportunities to add to the score.
After the break, the PS4 team switched off and Esports The Reds punished them. A tackle from Chris Murtagh rebounded off Jamie Scott and fell to The Reds striker Anton who lashed home from near the penalty spot.
Knowing the importance of a win, the PS4 team fought back and retook the lead just before the hour. A superb free-kick routine saw Lee Marsh turn provider as he picked out Shane Dempsey to give Tranmere the lead.
Unfortunately, Tranmere’s lead only lasted two minutes. Esports The Reds midfielder King found space inside the Rovers box and there was nothing AutoKorrect or the Rovers back four could do to keep out the shot.
Tranmere keeper AutoKorrect did manage to keep the scores level with five minutes to play, showing a superb piece of vision to cut out a through ball by Esports The Reds, which would have seen Anton through on goal.
A 2-2 draw wasn’t the worst result for the PS4 team who maintained their two-point gap ahead of their rivals going into next week.
Xbox Team
With the season finished, it was just a case of waiting to see where the Xbox team would finish in the table. A top six finish would mean that the Xbox team would play in the XVPG Premier League next season. Unfortunately, a poor last week of the season cost the team dear and they ended up finishing 7th on goal difference. On a more positive note, congratulations Olly Griffiths who was named as the Xbox Player of the Season by his fellow teammates!
The Xbox team will be holding trials between now and the start of April so don’t hesitate to get in touch if you are interested in joining. Please email johnwarrington@live.co.uk.
Words by John Warrington