TNS found wanting ahead of Anfield trip
Jul 4 2005
Daily Post
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 Glen-toran included Kevin Keegan on their team-sheet.
