Football: Aldridge hits hat-trick to spur Rovers
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Your support makes all the difference.Tranmere Rovers. . .5
West Ham United. . .2
JOHN ALDRIDGE came out on top with a hat-trick in a majestic exhibition of goalscoring expertise to consolidate Tranmere Rovers' promotion challenge at the expense of their closest rivals, West Ham, last night.
Neither side betrayed their faith in controlled, passing football, despite a heavy, clinging pitch, and the Premier League will probably be the richer for either or both graduating next spring.
The wonder was that Aldridge, the prolific former Liverpool goalscorer, seemed so subdued in the earlier stages. We should have known better.
In the 17th minute Kevin Keen wasted a break on the left, carelessly giving the ball away. Neil McNab rode a tackle to help it forward and put the onus on Aldridge. The striker beat West Ham's offside trap and confronted the goalkeeper, Ludek Miklosko, way out of his territory.
Aldridge went round him but his task was far from over. However, he was confident and able enough to bend the ball between the opponents and the near post to register his 15th goal of the season.
It was almost as if the gauntlet had been thrown down at the feet of West Ham's Trevor Morley. Four minutes later, the scores were level when he thundered a shot from 25 yards and Eric Nixon was still in the process of launching his substantial frame when the ball hit the back of his net to give Morley his 13th goal of the campaign.
West Ham were again caught square at the back in the 48th minute and again were punished. This time Kenny Irons bludgeoned them, beating Miklosko with a firm low shot. The goalkeeper reached high a minute later to tip over a shot from Aldridge, much to the frustration of the Republic of Ireland international.
West Ham's anxiety to salvage a point inevitably left them vulnerable at the back and, after 70 minutes, Tranmere seized the opportunity to create and execute a stunning third.
Irons placed a perfect pass into the path of Aldridge and his finish was magnificent. Eleven minutes from the end, however, another master finisher, Clive Allen, converted West Ham's second.
Aldridge completed his hat-trick a minute from the end with a nonchalant flick over Miklosko after the goalkeeper's clearance had been headed back by Chris Malkin, Tranmere's centre-forward. Malkin then headed the fifth from Morrissey's cross in injury time.
Tranmere Rovers: Nixon; Higgins, Brannan, Irons, Mungall, Vickers, Morrissey, Aldridge, Malkin, McNab (Martindale, h-t), Nevin. Substitute not used: Muir.
West Ham United: Miklosko; Breacker, Dicks, Potts, Martin, M Allen (Foster, 89), Robson, Parris (Bishop, 80), Morley, C Allen, Keen.
Referee: P Harrison (Heywood, Lancs).
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