Young side blown away

Nov 28 2009 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Echo

STRONG winds helped to dry out any wet pitch and enabled Tranmere's totesport.com league fixture at Carlisle go-ahead.

But the conditions were also a dominant factor in the game as a young Rovers side featuring just one professional –17-year-old goalkeeper Joe Collister – were narrowly beaten 2-1.

Tranmere, playing into the teeth of the wind in the first half, were two goals down inside 25 minutes to strikes by Manny Richardson and Gavin Rothery.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Rovers took the initiative. The pressure was rewarded by a goal from Max Power on 70 minutes but an equaliser eluded the visitors.