Tranmere kept touch with the Play Off places with a 3-1 win over Hartlepool at a blustery Prenton Park.

Rovers had to rely on luck at times with the visitors being reduced to ten men, conceding a penalty and scoring an own goal, but the three points were nevertheless very welcome.

The result lifted Ronnie Moore's side to seventh in League One, behind sixth placed Walsall only on goal difference and only three points behind fourth placed Nottingham Forest.

There were three changes to the side that drew 1-1 at Swansea in midweek, with Adnan Ahmed and John Mullin dropping to the bench and Jennison Myrie-Williams missing out altogether. Coming into the side were Steve Jennings and Chris Greenacre, while Chris Shuker made his long awaited return from a knee injury, taking a starting role four days after his first game back for the Reserves.

Shuker almost had an early shooting opportunity but Greenacre's pass just missed the winger on the edge of the area.

It took until the tenth minute for the first shot of the game. Shuker's lobbed pass found Robbie Stockdale in an advanced position on the right wing and his cross was met by Shane Sherriff who put a header just wide of goal.

The visitors passed the ball nicely around the edge of the Tranmere area on 17 minutes, with the ball eventually being cleared out of the path of Michael Mackay by Antony Kay after a good cross from Joel Porter.

Ian Moore broke free to run on to a pass from Greenacre on 19 minutes but his shot was blocked by Michael Nelson. Shuker, who showed no early signs of being off the pace, provided another cross for Sherriff on 22 minutes and this time the Australian's header was well saved by Arran Lee-Barratt.

Andy Monkhouse's 26th shot was deflected behind for a corner by Paul McLaren while penalty appeals were turned down at the other end when Shuker appeared to be pushed while attempting an overhead kick 12 yards out.

A well worked corner routine gave Kay a great opportunity in space on 30 minutes but he miscued his shot and the ball was cleared by the Hartlepool defence.

Greenacre sent a first time shot over on the turn on 34 minutes but Rovers were given a great opportunity moments later. Ian Moore nipped in to intercept a back header from Nelson but he was taken down inside the area by Jamie McCunnie who was, perhaps harshly, shown a red card. Greenacre stepped up to take the resulting penalty and though his shot was saved by Lee-Barratt, he was well placed to knock in the rebound and give Tranmere the lead.

A stray pass from Kay gave the visitors a chance to level on 42 minutes, but Monkhouse put his 18 yard effort wide after beating Stockdale to the loose ball.

The visitors piled on the pressure early in the second half and though there were one or two nervy moments Danny Coyne was never seriously tested in the Tranmere goal.

Rovers eased the pressure in the 62nd minute with their second goal of the game. After an attack started by Stockdale came to a premature end, Tranmere started forward again with McLaren finding Shuker on the right. The winger sent in another cross and Hartlepool's Nelson turned the ball past his own keeper from eight yards.

Shuker was replaced by Zola on 70 minutes, with Rovers moving to a 4-3-3- formation. However, seconds later the visitors pulled a goal back, with Ritchie Humphreys heading in at the far post from Antony Sweeney's right wing cross.

A rash challenge from Kay gave Hartlepool a golden opportunity to level on 78 minutes, with a penalty being awarded to the visitors. Substitute Tom Craddock stepped up to take the kick but to the relief of the home support he put his shot wide of the right hand post.

Rovers' play was scrappy at times and it needed a good save from Coyne to deny Craddock on 88 minutes.

At the other end Greenacre tested Lee-Barratt with a near post shot and Rovers were finally able to breath a sigh of relief in injury time when Sherriff headed in a McLaren free kick from close range to make the final score 3-1.