[lfc-news] TNS found wanting ahead of Anfield trip - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 4 July 2005
TNS found wanting ahead of Anfield trip
Nine days before Liverpool begin the defence of their European crown
John Bridgewater ventured to Wales to eye up first round qualifier
opponents TNS.

The sun may have shone, but some clouds hovered over TNS's warm-up ahead
of next week's daunting Champions League first round qualifier at Liverpool.

Billed as the battle of the champions between the winners of the Welsh
and Irish Leagues, the Saints impressed in parts against Glentoran. But
in the end they were beaten.

And manager Ken McKenna admitted the Welsh Premier winners will need to
step up a gear ahead of the biggest game in the club's history at
Anfield in nine days' time..

A 76th-minute strike from substitute Stephen Parkhouse secured the
spoils for the Irish visitors much to the delight of their vociferous
band of 200 supporters.

The accustomed string of second-half substitutions disrupted the flow,
although it gave a couple of trialists a chance to stake their claim for
the hosts. One of those was forward Thomas Rooney, cousin of England and
Manchester United star Wayne, who appeared along with former Leigh RMI
utility man Tom Field.

With both sides having one eye on the challenges ahead, there was hardly
a tackle in anger until Scott Ruscoe caught Glentoran's Peter McCann
moments before half-time.

In the crowd there was a mixture of committed fans, the inquisitive and
those just eager to get their hands on vouchers for this month's David v
Goliath clash at Anfield.

Liverpool scouts no doubt mingled among them to check on what awaited
the holders as the Premiership giants embarked on the defence of the
trophy they won in Istanbul.

A mini bus of Reds supporters also made their first excursion to
Llansantffraid to run the rule over the opposition.

"It was quicker to get to Istanbul," said one Liverpool fan after
apparently losing his way en route to Treflan. While TNS had Rooney in
their ranks, part-timers Glentoran included Kevin Keegan on their
team-sheet.

This brought back memories that his namesake, the former England and
Liverpool legend, had visited Treflan on a Euro mission two years ago
when manager of Manchester City.

TNS, tanned and sporting their lesser known dark strip, started brightly
enough with Martyn Naylor's volley testing keeper Elliot Morris after 54
seconds.

At the other end, Darren Lockhart saw his low 25-yarder safely held by
Gerard Doherty eager to turn in a confidence-boosting dis-play ahead of
a busy night at Anfield.

Those apart, chances were in short supply with both sides lacking the
cutting edge despite near perfect conditions.

Glentoran, themselves gearing up for a Champions League clash with Irish
rivals Shelbourne, rattled the bar through substitute Darrell Avery
after the break.

But the visitors were not to be denied on 76 minutes when Evans lost
possession to Parkhouse who coolly curled the ball inside the far post
from the edge of the box. TNS did up the ante late on, but keeper Morris
was rarely troubled as many onlookers pondered the awesome task facing
the Welsh Premier men at Anfield.

TNS: Doherty, Naylor (Davies 69), King (Lawless 46), Baker, Evans,
Holmes, Ruscoe (Rooney 69), Lloyd-Williams (Wood 46), Wilde (Toner 46),
Beck (Field 69), Hogan (Leah 46). Subs: Jackson, Lalley, S Jones.

GLENTORAN: Morris, Nixon, Holmes, Walker, Leeman, Keegan (Melaugh 46),
McCann, McCallion (Avery 46), Morgan (Parkhouse 46), Halliday (Tolan
46), Lockhart. Sub: Mannus.

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