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A ferry across the Mersey …. 90s cheese records … And Bob Marley … And that was just the tip of the iceberg … as BillytheBee joins Brentford fans dancing on the terraces for a seven goal thriller

Blimey.

So where to start?

I still haven’t caught my breath.

This game will undoubtedly go down in history.

No it’s not the match that got Brentford promoted to Division One.

No it’s not the game that got us into the play-offs.

No it’s not the cup final victory against a Premiership opposition

Those games you expect fans to turn up for in their droves and give their all. And when we win, it’s a wonderful feeling.

But this was a match. Against an unglamorous side. In September. When everything seemed to be going against us. Brentford fans turned up in decent numbers … And really got behind the team from the get go. Just like the good olde days. And they got a treat.

That’s what made this game special.

The top sides were banging in goals and opening up the gap. We were losing players like wildfire. We were really unlucky In bringing in replacements in the transfer window. We had a couple of heavy defeats and the fans were getting a tad despondent.

We needed a shot in the arm … And quick.

And Christ … If ever there was one .. This was it.

And you know when not one …. not two … But three quality terrace songs surface within one match with the fans singing in full voice for 90 minutes, we are gonna have a game on our hands ….

Rosler made a big move. Bringing back Richard Lee for his first game in a long, long time. Also starting was Sheffield Wednesday loanee centre-back Martin Taylor. Tony Craig was switched to left-back. Toumani partnered McCormack in the middle. And Grigg came back in to spearhead the attack with Donaldson.

And things couldn’t have gone better as two minutes into the game Tranmere keeper Owen Fon Williams blocks Harlee Dean’s shot into the path of Martin Taylor who slots the ball into the empty net.

Logan and Grigg came close with good efforts. And Diagouraga’s shot ricochets off the post.

And minutes later things got better. McCormack played the ball in which was cleared by the Tranmere defence. The clearance was met bu Donaldson who banged the ball home.

Brentford were running things. McCormack was an engine steering the midfield. Grigg, Forshaw and McCormack came close.

With Tranmere now chasing the game, they threw caution to the wind. Running at our defence … Tony Craig having to earn his stripes in his stand-in full-back role.

Lee was called into action and played a blinder – pulling off great saves from Goodson and Akpa Akpro.

The fans burst into song. “Don’t worry. ‘Bout a thing. With Richard Lee In Goal … It’s gonna be alright” to Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds. A song that was ‘composed’ by Bees fans in the infamous Cavern Club, Liverpool at 1am the previous night.

But two minutes from half time, Tranmere breached the Brentford defence with a slick move – Atkinson latching into a ball through and he beat Lee with a decent finish. It was annoying, Brentford had switched off for a moment … Allowing Tranmere back into the game.

Tranmere finished strong and it was good to get to half-time.

HT. Tranmere 1 Brentford 2

Tranmere started off where they began – pressing the Brentford defence hard.

The crowd did their best to get right behind the Bees.

“Uwe Rosler dance now” eminating from the away end to the tune of C&C music factory’s “Everybody dance now” …

Richard Lee pulls of more fantastic saves. One flying fingertip save which was heading for the top right hand corner put paid to any worries that Lee was still recovering from injury.

Then on 54 minutes, Tranmere caught the Bees on the hop. Brentford were not ready as Tranmere took a quick free-kick and the ball was crossed in to be met by point blank header. Lee pulled off a wonder save but the ball dropped to Dugdale who slotted the ball into the empty net with Lee still on the floor.

Fillo came on for McCormack. And the game turned again when a Logan cross was headed in by Donaldson to put the Bees ahead again. This lead to more chances for the Bees from Donaldson, Grigg and Craig.

“Grigg. Grigg will tear you apart again” the Bees fans sang to Joy Division’s “Love will tear us apart again”. The Bees fans were in good voice.

Tranmere players and the crowd were trying to wind Grigg up and get him booked. Grigg was getting angry and gave way to Trotta with 3 minutes to go. Liverpool midfielder Texieira also made a cameo appearance coming on for Saville.

Meanwhile Lee was pulling off more tremendous saves as the game was end to end. Bob Marley still emanating from the away end.

And just as it looked like the Bees had seen this game out, disaster struck. On 90 minutes, a cross was banged in by sub Stockton. A well taken goal that Lee had no chance with.

Gutting…

But that never say never attitude lived on with Brentford. On 93 minutes, a Brentford throw into the area was adjudged to have hit a Tranmere hand and the referee pointed to the spot. Forshaw stepped up to bang the ball high down the middle to rescue all three points for the Bees to scenes of madness from the away end.

FT. Tranmere 3 Brentford 4

This was tasty tonic for the disappointments of the last couple of weeks. Richard Lee back in goal made a huge difference to the side – despite conceding three goals. His presence and confidence steadied the defence, and without him between the sticks, Tranmere could have scored a hatful.

Taylor looked solid in the centre-back spot.

The midfield looked unbeatable for the first 20 minutes or so, before Tranmere decided to attack the wings instead, which changed the game.

Great that it shows that we have goals in us and the team has fight. Worrying that we still seem to be shipping goals though. Saying that, if we can do a Peterborough and score more goals than we conceded each game, I think we’ll all take that. Especially if the match is as exciting as this one.

So onwards and upwards. And onto the big one. Orient at home. This is going to be a real test of how we stand in this league.

But fans can relax and enjoy the next week in the knowledge that the Bees are, to a certain extent, back on track. And hopefully, we can now get a settled side together to continue mounting our promotion campaign.

BillytheBee
@billythebee99