Tranmere - Home, Withdean Era
Season 12 (H) 12/3/11 - 2-0 ~ Wood, Murray
What was it about Feb and March with regard to Rovers rolling into town? See below for all relevant diary goss during this infamous Withdean era. Our record in league1 was quite good with W3 D2 L1 from their 6 visits in winter. Peter Taylor got a victory first on route to div1 and Mark McGhee too for our second promotion to level two. But Dean Wilkins drew one and lost one while attempting p-o places. Russ Slade also drew his fixture whilst doing the great escape and Gus Poyet bagged a useful three points last term at otherwise woeful Withy. In our last season at the old sports complex, BHA was out in front of L1 and W'dean became a fortress again. Poyet's mantra was pass, pass, pass and his strikers got goals here and all. We were living the dream and most season ticket holders had a spot reserved at the Amex for August. Of course, we wanted Championship fixtures there too - we deserved it, see below for gory details. On the day, it was cool and cloudy and nearly 7500 turned up.
For over an hour there was no way thru a resolute, pre-packed Rovers defence. They came for a point and were on course to claim it. Then Gus swapped two starters for a couple of ball players in Noone and Bridcutt and hey, it worked immediately. Bennett's stab into the area found a travellers hand and Ref (who you couldn't predict) pointed to the spot. Gus went and hid behind the dugout while fans chuckled at his antics. So Wood calmly claimed an addition to his tally (63min) no probs. Albion had missed six pens to date - but not today! Murray scored a super second, turning quickly and driving across the helpless keeper (71m). Barnes then came on for Wood and got involved in handbags near dugouts, with Gus holding him back!! The game petered out, although Rovers did try to go forward, requiring Casper to earn his glove money pdq. We'd now gone one more unbeaten down Tongdean Lane this season and it helped open up an eight point gap at the top of league1 plus games in hand. A tough run-in lay ahead but in all honesty, getting close to BHA's target of 2pts/gm should result in promotion.
Ankergren, Calderon, Greer, El-Abd, Painter, Bennett, Kishishev (Bridcutt), Dicker, Sparrow (Noone), Wood (Barnes), Murray.
League1 P 34 . W 21 D 8 L 5 . F 64 A 26 . Pt 71 Po 1

Season 11 (H) 27/3/10 - 3-0 ~ Murray, Crofts, Barnes
Funny how what goes around comes around. It had been a twelve-month since meeting Rovers in L1 at the Withdean and please do compare with yer '08/9 & '07/8 reports below, read and weep! Yeah, would you Adam & Eve it? We'd been playing dirty northern bastards for several seasons in this infamous era and hey-ho, each were still no nearer to the Championship. Thank God Falmer was being built with Tony Bloom's 80+Mill funding, going right to the very last of 22.5k blue & white plastic seats. Adams was long gone, then Slade too in less than six months, to be succeded by Gus Poyet. Of RS's interim squad; Dicker was signed but Owusu wouldn't and went down under - literally. Whing was now out on loan, like Davies (Tunnicliffe, McNulty, Wright and Dickinson too elsewhere) but Carole returned. Kuipers broke a finger, while Virgo got back into good books. Cox (Forster on loan as well) couldn't get a game now, whereas Murray did as solo front man for GP in 451. Hendrie, Barnes and keeper Naisbitt were signed in the transfer window this very week. It rained but later sun came out. The pitch was growing again after a hard winter and crowds were also coming back - 6800 here today.
Albion went a goal ahead on their first real attack (7 min) getting into the area. Dicker mishit a dig and it fell to Murray up front. He beat a defender and keeper with a curler to far post. On half an hour a super move developed out right, soon after a pen appeal got waved aside. Carole centred and Crofts whipped it in (30m). In second period, BHA played well on the floor and kept possession to build patiently. But it was a mistake in Rovers rear that gave us a third score. Barnes was on for twenty mins but went solo to slide a shot under goalie's dive (81m). Previously Rovers were reduced to ten men (78m) for a two footer on Calderon by dugouts. Brighton turned it on and mighta got five but at least Tranmere's keeper continued to be a true pro to the very end. Hendrie looked class for his sub debut of 15mins. We all went home happy and toasted Gus Poyet as a sinner turned Saint.
Brezovan, Calderon, Elphick, El-Abd, Painter, Bennett, Crofts, Navarro, Dicker (Virgo), Carole (Hendrie), Murray (Barnes).
League1 P 38 . W 12 D 11 L 15 . F 48 A 52 . Pt 47 Po 13

Season 10 (H) 28/3/09 - 0-0
BHA was in a fix, stuck in the bottom four and both time and tide were running out for floating our boat in League1 next term. Who could we blame for this mess? Perhaps Lewes District Council, who we hated with serial legal representation year on year. But no, not now with Falmer an ongoing huge hole on a chalk slope and Village Way made dual carriageway! Micky Adams then, or Dean Wilkins for failure to reach play-offs and change expectation into reality. Maybe Dick Knight or those Blooms for ambitions above their pockets. But probably the villains of this piece were the squad, including lots of loan players and people with different agendas to the club. Brighton is a super city to spend leisure and possibly bright lights started well south of Withdean on weekends. So Slade arrived to whip 'em into a frenzy, stop rumours and get results. But was it all going to end in tears for B'ton fans?
The match ended nil-nil like it began and there were chances by both outfits to grab all points. Murray was back from injury and if sharper, surely woulda scored. He was replaced on 70 min by Carole. We never looked like finding the net thereafter. It pissed hard for start of the second forty-five and yeah, we all got well wet. Just another afternoon at W'dean and we've gotta be mad to go - even in summer. Slade tried to get some steel into his defence, where Whing got Mom and is in line for Poy - watch these spaces. We kept a clean sheet with FDM back between posts, so should be grateful for going Dutch in trying circumstances. Virgo appeared better in c-d after a ban, while Hinsh did a job there too. Dicker debuted and seemed to know the end we attacked or defended. That is very handy to remember if you play in midfield a lot.
Kuipers, Whing, Virgo, Hinshelwood, Borrowdale (Mayo), Dicker, Bangura (El-Abd), Cox, Davies, Owusu, Murray (Carole).
League1 P 38 . W 8 D 12 L 18 . F 42 A 60 . Pt 36 Po 22

Season 9 (H) 12/2/08 - 0-0
For some reason Springtime came early at winter's stage of the season, during daylight hours at least it was sunny, warm and pleasant. The pitch was almost perfect as a consequence. This scheduled evening fixture kicked-off a run of five home matches on the bounce, three of which were on Tuesdays. Brighton was supposed to be chasing a play-off place but Tranmere were more likely to get one on results to date. We were in 14th beforehand and they 6th but Albion had three games in hand on a lot of rivals above due to postponements and FA Cup clashes. Wilkins was very short of numbers because bans, injuries and transfers had taken a toll. Hinshelwood, Reid, Fraser and Lynch were long term casualties. Also Savage, O'Callaghan, Hammond, Revell and Elder left the club. Murray (300k), Dixon (55k), Thomson, McFaul and now Bowditch had come in to replace them.
The match itself was a bore draw, with little goalmouth activity bar a couple of crowded area set pieces. Ref blew up a lot and it all got to be a stop & start affair. Murray 'scored' but had cheated according to a fussy little whistle blower. Forster who was in a lean spell for goals broke thru once but goalie saved his solo effort. Rovers looked dangerous on the break, actually played better football but didn't finish. Kuipers made a routine stop or two his granny coulda held. Brighton probably gave 'em too much respect in trying to keep a clean sheet and forward runs from m-f were rare as B'ton FAC fourth round apps. We lacked a playmaker and on evidence of a dismal run of late '07 to early '08 form, a goal scorer too.
Kuipers, Whing, Elphick, Butters, Richards, Bowditch (Mayo), Thomson, El-Abd, Cox, Murray (Hart), Forster.
League1 P 29 . W 10 D 9 L 10 . F 36 A 32 . Pt 39 Po 16

Season 8 (H) 18/11/06 - 0-1
This game came a week after an incredible run of good form that included, three consecutive away wins on the long road up north and two victorious Cup competitions at W'dean. Ironically B'ton had not won at home in the league since mid September. Conference opposition had twice been put to a knockout sword ten days apart - F 12 A 1 in a record breaking spell of 21st century stats. All in all, Albion had netted 23 times within a month of glorious harvest. Slightly in excess of 6000 paying punters got along to witness the next round of cannon fodder to arrive from north of Watford. It had rained but wasn't expected to pour cold water on a blissful autumn so far.
Tanmere took an early lead, hung on and survived a battering to take all three points. Not often do you hear an excited crowd cheer a losing unit off the field of battle. Withdean is not noted for any sort of collective demonstrative outburst, bar berating McGhee systematically - several months earlier. They stood en mass by the track, near the end and willed an equaliser. Lethal finishing, so prominent over seven previous contests was left for a post mortem. Our luck had finally run out.
Henderson, Whing, Hinshelwood, Butters, Lynch, Fraser (Bowditch), El-Abd, Hammond, Cox, Revell, Robinson.
League 1 P 18 . W 7 D 3 L 8 . F 24 A 27 . Pt 24 Po 12

Season 5 (H) 10/3/04 - 3-0 ~ Hart, Benjamin, Knight
A second midweek evening running for footy, dry cold and calm with the pitch playable. Our visitors came into Withdean fresh from FA Cup heroics and were expected to give an equally determined defensive action. They shot themselves in the proverbials by slackness at set pieces and uninspiring goalkeeping. Nevertheless Brighton strikers had to get in there and finish. All done in fine style from a Hart header, Benjamin bundle-in and Knight killer lob. Wait a minute, things happened in much the same way against Bournemouth at home two weeks before. In fact Albion had hit three on eight occasions in all competitions - although cup contests had long since been forgotten.
Throughout the team, things worked well in pairs. Young full-backs and sub done good. Central defence was outstanding - Butters being definitely in line for Player of the Year. Midfield used both flanks constructively and also strong and creative centrally. The up front duo buzzed about and each notched one from open play. We are Brighton from the south and love it, just beating those dirty northern bastards!
Roberts, Virgo (El-Abd), Cullip, Butters, Harding, Hart (Piercy), Carpenter, Oatway, Jones, Benjamin, Knight.
Div 2 (League 1) P 35 . W 16 D 8 L 11 . F 51 A 36 . Pt 56 Po 5

Season 3 (H) 5/2/02 - 1-0 ~ Hart
For some reason Albion played a greater than average number of games in Jan, Feb and March in the evenings. As you might guess, wet winter nights also reigned in direct proportion. Such is life in FL lower tiers, where those urgently required modern quality stadiums are mostly but daydreaming doodles on a wish list. Oh well, come redistribution of wealth, when gigantic global sponsors wake up to the fact we really are true representatives of the English game...
Tranmere turned up unbeaten in twelve. Brighton's corresponding form had been a bit in and out - sometimes with proverbial washing. On heavy but grassy green ground, a battle of homologous giants began. Albion like Rovers, believed they were worthy of greater heights, belonged on a higher plane, or could reach a destiny of huge potential. This match was one to measure ability of formidable foes fighting to dominate a relatively small world. It was nip and tuck, cut and thrust, strike and parry. Taylor showed tactical nous of Premiership calibre, to put subs on at start of a second half showdown. He went for a more attacking option, which we all understand is the best form of defence. A revised game plan meant for more coherent team play. But it all came down to momentary individual brilliance, when Hart wriggled through and drove a winner home from distance. Withdean erupted.
Kuipers, Watson, Cullip, Morgan, Jones (Brooker), Rogers, Carpenter, Oatway (Webb), Pethick, Hart, Zamora.
Div 2 (League 1) P 30 . W 16 D 10 L 4 . F 42 A 30 . Pt 58 Po 2

Tranmere - Away, Withdean Era
Season 12 (A) 2/10/10 - 1-1 ~ Murray
Brighton had a poor record at Tranmere over six visits there during the Withdean era, under Slade, Adams, Wilkins, McGhee and er, Adams. We'd only scored once by our own player, from numerous Albion squads trying to break free of third-tier football. Now it was Gus Poyet's turn in attempting to gain three points up at Prenton Park. Albion were doing ok for once in this division, while Rovers were at wrong end of the table again. We had all sorts of foreign footy types on the books and they appeared to be getting results in true squad fashion. Of those who made an app last term, only Elphick, Bennett, Dicker, Hart and Murray were still available. But hey, the world turns and yer gotta keep the faith in here and now.
Ref appeared to gift us a pen but nobody reacted early doors. But if you don't score, then you can't win. From route one, Murray put us ahead (35min) on the volley as Albion dominated the first half. GP shaped like 4312 with Bennett in a free role behind strikers. Dunk made his debut this season and played a blinder to boot. The trouble was, Seagulls didn't put daylight between troubled Merseysiders and southern softies. Barnes shoulda got a couple prior to h-t. It was different in the second period and Rovers gained new confidence as Albion back pedalled. Gus made changes around an hour gone to bolster defence, then went 433 with late introduction of LuaLua. Ref also had occasion to consider home penalty appeals but luck seemed to go with BHA. At the death, the home outfit snatched an equaliser (87m). We hung on and were grateful to get a point in the end. Probably a case of inviting pressure through more than just missed opportunity.
Ankergren, Calderon, Elphick, Dunk, Painter, Bennett, Dicker, Bridcutt, Sparrow (Kishishev), Barnes (Sandaza), Murray (LuaLua).
League1. P 10 . W 6 D 3 L 1 . F 14 A 7 . Pt 21 Po 1

Season 11 (A) 17/10/09 - 1-2 ~ Murray
League1 had plenty of half decent sides playing at tier three level this season, although it was a surprise to see Tranmere struggling in the bottom four. Brighton were having another year of treading water, even though another new squad were in place to exploit expectation. It was a quarter way thru this term and a whole point per game was only relegation form at end of the day. On paper we had useful skills and numbers but in reality loads of under-achievers. Something had to be done or Tony Bloom would be Mr Nasty and take over hire and fire from Dick Knight.
It wasn't that B'ton played badly or Tranmere particularly well. However Rovers got all three points because they took a couple of chances. It was no good blaming Ref, he did have a mare but wasn't responsible for poor BHA stats in each area, attacking or defending. But hey, pressure isn't goals either and the idea is to find the net and keep it clean. BHA went one down on 36min to a rebound in the box. A fizzer (66m) went past FDM for Rovers winner. Murray got flattened by goalie, got up and netted the pen (78m). Four minutes later he was sent off for two bookables. Russ Slade was mad but he picked the eleven, went 4312 then 3412 and probably a sore head to boot.
Kuipers, Hoyte, Virgo, Elphick, McNulty (Wright), Bennett, Dicker, Crofts, Thornhill (Cox), Hart (Dickinson), Murray.
League1 P 13 . W 3 D 4 L 6 . F 15 A 22 . Pt 13 Po 19

Season 10 (A) 20/12/08 - 0-1
Falmer preparation had officially started with a sod-busting ceremony on site. Lucky fans who won thru in a ballot, got to go see and drink champers to boot. Nimbys and other anti factions were invited in a chalk slope love-in, like a proper stadium venue for entertainment would one day offer. Mega tons of earth were eventually to be moved from now and we'd all dug in to achieve this outcome. Never underestimate the power of peoples will over kill-joy rules & regs. Meanwhile on the pitch, things were going from bad to worse. Adams had a long list of injuries to clear up, with those intense Xmas fixtures fast approaching. Revolution2 stalled before mounting any sort of top-ten challenge and we were close to the drop zone recently.
It should have been nil-nil at least and with luck, Albion might have nicked it just before stoppage. A penalty shout was turned down and of course, we paid a high price for previous near misses. Rovers hit the bar in time-added and although their rebound attempt got parried, they converted the loose ball. This after home fans booed their outfit and Brighton had 'em down but they then beat the bloody count. We'd hit a post and other chances went begging earlier. Adams changed from 451 to 442 late in the second period and we shoulda gone on to win. We didn't and got nowt as Rovers broke, seemingly again and again from end to end play. The pitch was poor and it pissed down all game. But it was same for both battling teams, so perhaps difficult to find an excuse or blame Ref for failings - yes, yet again of our goal-less attack up there.
Sullivan, Whing, Elphick, Hinshelwood, Richards, Cox (Robinson), El-Abd, Virgo, Johnson, McLeod (Murray), Forster (Fleetwood).
League1 P 21 . W 4 D 8 L 9 . F 24 A 32 . Pt 20 Po 21

Season 9 (A) 25/8/07 - 0-2
Back at Prenton Park after four months (see below) and what's different? Oh yeah, we had Whing sent off for two bookables on 90 min but by then had been done by Greenacre - again! This term goals went in on 78 min and 91 min as opposed to 76 & 94 previously. We went there for a point and probably should have got it but for dropping our guard entering the last 15 minutes - again! Albion had possession and appeared comfortable at the back, although up front, well.... There were several goalmouth scrums but our scoring blokes kinda stood around instead of diving in there. Wilko went 4-3-3, with Cox buzzing about and El-Abd being Mr Nasty. Brighton made progress from side to side, finally reaching Rovers area which of course was a bit crowded by then.
Stalemate continued for most of this lifeless match as neither side could break down opposition. Then the home outfit stepped up and began to hit us on the break. Ref played on, a free header arrived and we'd lost. Their second goal was pure farce as a guy ran on to a punt upfield, during a mass infiltration into Tranmere. What with this result and also going to Crewe, Brighton fans aren't exactly lovers of travelling to the north-west. Check the team-sheet for our visit to Oldham in January '08 and Carlisle in March. Time will tell as they say.
Kuipers, Whing, Elphick, Butters, Rents, El-Abd, Hammond, Cox, Savage, Forster (Elder), Revell.
League 1 P 3 . W 1 D 0 L 2 . F 3 A 5 . Pt 3 Po 16

Season 8 (A) 9/4/07 - 1-2 ~ og
It was Easter Monday and a dull, drissley day in north-west Merseyside. The season was meandering to a mid-table finish of mediocrity and both teams eased back a tad at times. Trouble was, we bossed the first half to lead 1-0 from a mis-directed clearance, then lost the plot second period. If Albion could have scored off their own bat, it would have been a different result. We had looked good on the break all term but this was no way to win matches by hoping to catch opposition cold with every attack.
Rovers put on a kid sub fifteen minutes from the end. His first touch was to score from a deep cross as our rear-line stood still. Wilkins countered by rearranging mid-field. He might as well have been the deck chair attendant on Titanic. Just before 4 min of stoppage were completed, Ref gave Rovers a penalty. The fall guy was not in a goal-scoring position out wide but it was more than this officials jobsworth to turn a blind eye. A shame because although Tranmere won on stats, Brighton were the better team bar finishing.
Flinders, Rehman, Butters (Elder), Lynch, Rents, Cox, El-Abd, Loft (Ward), Fraser (Hart), Robinson, Savage.
League 1 P 42 . W 14 D 10 L 18 . F 46 A 52 . Pt 52 Po 15

Season 5 (A) 20/12/03 - 0-1
Around 500 Albion diehards drifted into dull as ditchwater Birkenhead for action at Prenton Park. That's devotion in West Wirral, which for many definitely wins over wild Withdean on any wet day. BHA got beat but conceded two penalties to compound their battling for a bridgehead into promotion places. In such circumstances, saving one spot kick would have ensured a precious point. Law of averages implies dual decisions result merely in a kick in the teeth, or in our case - beak. Roaming Rovers brought Seagulls down to earth and we could only pick over scraps of what might have been had strikers successfully swooped.
With almost half the season completed, Albion were on course to compete for a play-off place. Niggling single goal reversals at Barnsley, Colchester, Bournemouth, now here and at home to Stockport, had contributed to too many defeats for an automatic promotion position. The good news was B'ton had more or less played each other team once, would count on extra at fortress Withdean and now knew the score.
Roberts, Watson, Cullip, Butters, Mayo, Hart, Carpenter, Yeates, Jones, McPhee (Piercy), Knight.
Div 2 (League 1) P 22 . W 10 D 5 L 7 . F 32 A 25 . Pt 35 Po 4

Season 3 (A) - 25/8/01 - 0-0
Albion hadn't crossed paths with Rovers for all but a decade. Their 'up' was at a time of our 'down' and as sometimes is the case in football, our latest promotion had also coincided with their relegation. Prenton Park may not be the Anfield or Goodison of Birkenhead but nearly 900 Brighton fans (10% of gate) were happy to be there and gaze at the 'Cowshed'. Anyway Tranmere were expected to be strong at home in this division and provided a benchmark for required standards. Seagulls defended doggedly, if such a sylph species spanning seasides so can be described, bearing in mind Rovers are not actually that far from New Brighton. BHA kept a second clean sheet on the road and thus gained a duo of crucial away points. Perhaps we'd made rather than rode our luck, it was sunny on Merseyside and all was right with the world by 5pm.
Kuipers, Watson, Cullip, Morgan, Jones (Mayo), Hart (Pitcher), Carpenter, Brooker, Lehman (Steele), Zamora.
Div 2 (League 1) P 3 . W 1 D 2 L 0 . F 2 A 1 . Pt 5 Po 6