City 'Six-up' the Promotion Race - Hull City vs Tranmere Rovers - Saturday 18th December 04 By Gareth Marshall

One of the Saturday's games of the day in the Football League saw Peter Taylor's 2nd placed Hull City lock horns with 3rd placed Tranmere. Before the game, only goal difference separated the two teams, but at full-time there looked like a chasm between the two promotion hopefuls, as City treated the 20,000 plus crowd to 6-1 thrashing of Rovers. 30 minutes into the game, even City's most optimistic fans couldn't have envisaged the full-time score, as both sides cancelled each other out.

It wasn't pretty, with Rovers' centre-backs preferring the old-fashioned approach to distributing the ball, and launching it as far (and high) as possible towards the halfway line. However, on 20 minutes Tranmere 's luck started to unravel when keeper John Achterberg was involved in a collision and subsequently had to go off. With sub Russell Howarth in nets, Rovers appeared unperturbed, and midway through the 1st half they had forced 5 corners to City's 1, and Bo Myhill had to produce a wonderful save from Gary Jones' 12-yard effort to keep City level. With Hull labouring, a strike out of nothing from captain Ian Ashbee set them on their way, as he lashed home an unstoppable left foot effort from the edge of the box after Elliott headed Joseph's cross back into the middle.

City's biggest crowd of the season were now in full voice and the home side were on their way. Now things really started to go wrong for Rovers, as a clumsy challenge from Stuart Elliott left their sub keeper Howarth suffering from bad concussion, and according to Little after the game, he had no idea where he was. The game had really come to life at that point, as Tranmere players piled in to show their displeasure at Elliott's tackle - for which he was booked.

Howarth managed to see out the half, but didn't come out after the break, and City fans were generous in their applause as former favourite Theo Whitmore came on and took over in goal. It won't have been an experience he will have enjoyed. Just 9 minutes after the restart, Tigers were 2-0 to the good, as some neat work from Ryan France and Nick Barmby led to France's near post cross being flicked across goal by Delroy Facey. With Whitmore looking hopelessly lost, Elliott stole in at the back post and did brilliantly to plant a firm header inside the post. That marked the start of a frantic five minutes of football, as Tranmere went straight up the other end of the pitch and made it 2-1.

Eugene Dadi had only been on the park for 2 minutes, when he muscled his way through City's back line, and planted a shot past Myhill from a tight angle. Incredibly, City made it 3-1 almost straight from kick-off, as Facey set up another goal, with Barmby the beneficiary on this occasion.

With both sides taking the term end-to-end-football to extremes, Rovers' Canadian midfielder Iain Hume shot wide when well placed, and missed out on scoring the fourth goal in four minutes, allowing the crowd - and the players - a chance to draw breath. Despite Roberts testing Myhill with a curling 20-yard free kick, City were now playing with superb self-assurance, and looked to press home the advantage. On 68 minutes they made it 4-1, catching Tranmere cold at the back. Elliott bagged his second, as he ran on to a deft-flick on from Danny Allsopp, who'd just come on, and with the Rovers defence slow to react, he nailed his effort into the top corner, before setting off for his trademark acrobatic celebration.

Five minutes later, City had a chance to score a fifth, after Elliott was felled by Matt Jackson in the area when trying to latch on to Barmby's precise pass. There could be no complaints from Rovers, and there was no mistake from Elliott, who picked himself up to thump home. There may have been some nerves for the Northern Irishman though, when the ref spotted some encroachment when the kick was taken, and made the City man take the kick again.

With the minimum of fuss, Elliott completed his hat trick by knocking the ball into the bottom corner past a stationary Whitmore. Taylor immediately subbed him, and he left to rousing reception from the City faithful, as Michael Keane replaced him.

To their credit, Tranmere were determined to show why they had started the day level on points with City, and despite the persistent long-ball tactics of their defence, their talented midfield looked comfortable on the ball, and they can certainly play a bit. Indeed, they forced two late corners, as they looked to reduce the arrears. But City weren't really troubled from either of Beresford's corners, and after clearing away the latter effort, they ended up scoring a sixth.

After breaking away, Tigers won a corner of their own, which Green took. Damien Delaney won his header, and front his knockdown, Allsopp reacted quickest to stab the ball home. The 6-1 scoreline certainly flattered the Tigers, although nothing should be taken away from the ruthless way they sent Tranmere packing. Little's side were dealt some cruel luck, but ended up well beaten, as City's promotion charge stepped up a gear with a 5th straight win.

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