Tranmere's season ended as it started with a 2-1 defeat and a Chris Greenacre goal.

The result, which came from a game that could have gone either way, left Rovers with a final league placing of 11th.

The game also saw the sending off of Ian Goodison, a highly controversial decision with the centre back appearing to do little to deserve either yellow card.

There was just one change to the side that beat Southend 1-0, with Steve Jennings replaced in the centre of midfield by the returning Paul McLaren.

It was a perfect afternoon for football, with warm sunny conditions and a pitch that looked like it was ready for pre-season.

The home side took the lead with the first attack of the game on three minutes. A cross was sent in from the left and after Rovers failed to clear, Adebayo Akinfenwa knocked in from close range with his left foot.

Tranmere had an opportunity to level almost immediately, with first Antony Kay just beaten to the ball from a McLaren corner, and then Robbie Stockdale seeing a 20 yard effort deflect just over. From the corner that followed the ball again came out to Stockdale but this time his shot was sliced over the bar.

At the other end Akinfenwa held off Ben Chorley before firing over Danny Coyne's goal as the game quickly swung from end to end.

Rovers should have been back to all square on ten minutes when Shane Sherriff sent in a first time cross from the left and the ball fell to Kay on the far post. The former Barnsley defender made excellent contact on the volley but his shot went just over Chris Dunn's cross bar.

Colin Larkin's goalbound volley was blocked by Ian Goodison on 11 minutes while Alex Dyer's 20 yard effort deflected off Kay and behind for a corner soon after.

Chorley did well to block Dyer's shot on 27 minutes after the midfielder was put through by Akinfenwa while Ian Moore's low shot was cut out a minute later.

Larkin's curling effort went just past Coyne's left hand post and Andy Taylor advanced up the left wing to force Dunn into a save low at his near post soon after.

With Northampton looking set to take their lead into half time, Rovers hit back. The ball was cleared as far as Chris Shuker from a corner and the winger headed it back into the area and Chris Greenacre expertly found the bottom corner with an overhead kick from six yards out. The only down side for Greenacre was that his effort came too late or the Goal of the Season competition which was won by Kay for his Boxing Day effort against Carlisle.

A good run from Taylor was brought to an end by a late tackle from Larkin on 49 minutes but no free kick was awarded Rovers' way. 

The visitors' first substitution saw Jennings replace Stockdale, with Kay moving to right back.

Daniel Jones whipped a free kick narrowly past Coyne's right post on 61 minutes while Kay shot wide from 25 yards for Tranmere.

Shuker was replaced by Steve Davies on 67 minutes with the winger coming on to the left side of midfield and Sherriff and Jennings moving to the centre and right respectively.

However, he had yet to be involved when the home side grabbed the lead for a second time, with substitute Poul Hubertz heading in from a Jones free kick.

Rovers' final change saw Craig Curran brought on instead of Sherriff, with Jennings moving back into the centre of midfield.

Moments later the visitors were down to ten men, with Goodison shown a red card for two bookings which were both highly questionable decisions. The second saw the Rovers defender and Ryan Gilligan involved in a tussle but both were happy enough with the incident to shake hands at the end before the referee Gavin Ward's intervention.

Referee: Gavin Ward

Yellow cards: Jones (41), Hubertz (57), Goodison (60), Goodison (79), Gilligan (79)

Red card: Goodison (79)

Away support: 343

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