A goal each from strike partnership Chris Greenacre and Ian Moore gave Tranmere a 2-0 win over Port Vale and put them back in the Play Off places ahead of Easter weekend.

After a scrappy hour's play, Greenacre opened the scoring from the penalty spot, and later saw a second spot kick saved, while Moore added the second late on.

There was just one change to the side that defeated Hartlepool 3-1 with Ian Goodison returning from injury to take the place of Antony Kay in the centre of defence alongside Ben Chorley at a very wet and windy Prenton Park.

Chorley looped a header into the arms of Joe Anyon in the second minute from a Paul McLaren free kick while Luke Rodgers fired a free kick high over Danny Coyne's bar at the other end soon after.

Vale's David Howland shot over from 25 yards on eight minutes, and Ian Moore narrowly failed to get on the end of a Chris Greenacre pass moments later in an open start to the match.

It looked like Rovers had taken the lead on 11 minutes when Greenacre worked hard to fend off an opponent and send in a cross for Moore. The striker sent his shot goalwards but his effort was cleared off the line by a defender and McLaren put the rebound wide from the edge of the area.

Paul Harsley's cross tested Coyne on 32 minutes and the Rovers keeper did well to hold under pressure before eventually being fouled by Rodgers.

Greenacre saw a powerful shot blocked on George Pilkington, while Andy Taylor made a fine run up the left before playing a one two with Moore. Unfortunately for Rovers the ball fell to the defender's right foot rather than his preferred left and his scuffed effort allowed Vale to clear.

A deflected Greenacre shot looped high into the air and forced Anyon to tip over on 48 minutes.

With play continuing to be scrappy the crowd tried their best to help Rovers raise their game, with the fans in the Kop Stand starting a familiar "Ronnie Moore's Barmy Army" chant.

Soon after, Shane Sherriff headed at Anyon from a McLaren free kick, while the game's first substitution saw Jennison Myrie-Williams replace Chris Shuker on the right wing.

Greenacre and Moore combined on 62 minutes with the ball falling to the latter in space inside the area. However, with Robbie Stockdale rushing forward Moore paused and Anyon was able to push Stockdale's shot behind for a corner.

Rovers had now upped the tempo and went close twice in quick succession, with Greenacre having an angled shot saved by Anyon and Myrie-Williams firing over from six yards.

A fine ball from Steve Jennings sent Myrie-Williams free on the right on 68 minutes and after breaking into the area the winger cut back onto his left foot only to be pulled down by Paul Edwards. The referee had no option but to point to the penalty spot and Greenacre sent Anyon the wrong way to put Rovers into the lead.

Taylor fired over from 25 yards on 75 minutes while Rovers survived a scare eight minutes later. Goodison left a pass from Chorley for Coyne and the Rovers keeper had to sprint off his line to beat Danny Glover to the ball as the substitute sensed an opportunity to level.

However, seconds later Myrie-Williams won another penalty, Jason Talbot bringing the on-loan winger down as he raced towards goal. But this time Anyon guessed correctly as Greenacre's shot struck the legs of the keeper and flew high over the bar to keep Vale in the game.

On 88 minutes it was all over though, as Moore netted from a tight angle after cutting in from the left wing.

Tranmere: Coyne, Stockdale, Chorley, Goodison, Taylor, Shuker (Myrie-Williams 59), McLaren, Jennings, Sherriff, Moore, Greenacre (Zola 90). Substitutes not used: Achterberg, Kay, Curran.