It was one of the most eventful games you’ll see at any level, says Les Parry after Tranmere’s 2-1 win over Carlisle

Jan 4 2011 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

MANAGER Les Parry admitted he was “drained” after Tranmere ended a run of three consecutive League One defeats with a thrilling 2-1 success over Carlisle United at Prenton Park.

A bank holiday crowd of 5,128 were put through a rollercoaster of emotions in a game of three missed penalties that was ultimately decided by an 80th minute strike from Ian Thomas-Moore.

Parry said: “It was one of the most eventful games you will see at any level and I think our supporters went home happy. It was a massive win for us. You have to stop losing runs by any means and I thought the lads were absolutely tremendous.

“We played especially well in the second half when we created so many chances.”

Thomas-Moore struck the winner two minutes after Carlisle drew level through James Berrett, who capitalised on a mistake from Ian Goodison, scorer of Tranmere’s first goal.

Parry said: “After we conceded equaliser I just could not celebrate our winner. I could not believe what Ian had done. After the game I was drained.”

The emotions of Parry and the home supporters were not helped by Tranmere’s failure to convert two second-half penalties. Efforts by Thomas-Moore and full-back Aaron Cresswell were both saved by Carlisle goalkeeper Adam Collin. Carlisle defender Peter Murphy fired a spot kick over the bar early in the first half, when the visitors were on top.

Parry admitted: “We started sloppily, there’s no getting away from that. But I felt we finished the first half stronger and Ian Goodison’s goal was a great strike. The ball went like an arrow. No goalkeeper in the world could have saved it.”

The manager had words of praise for young goalkeeper Joe Collister, who deputised for virus victim Gunnar Nielsen the second time in three days. “The reaction save Joe made (from Gary Madine) early in the second half was a great one because he was going one way and then had to twist and get a hand to it. If a Premier League keeper had made a save like that it would have been shown on Match of the Day time after time.”