Three goals in a ten minute first half spell and a fourth late in the game earned Rovers their second win of the season in League One.

Bas Savage, Antony Kay, Craig Curran and Ian Moore all netted as Tranmere recovered from conceding an early goal with a solid display at Prenton Park and the first four goal haul in league action under Ronnie Moore.

There was one change to the side that lost at Leicester City, with Chris Shuker replacing George O'Callaghan, while new loan signing Ryan Shotton was named among the substitutes. Rovers Boss Ronnie Moore opted for a 4-4-2 formation, with Shuker and Edrissa Sonko in the wide midfield roles and Bas Savage alongside Craig Curran in attack.

The first chance of the game fell to Sonko in the second minute, with his header deflecting wide for a corner from Shuker's cross. Sonko was involved again four minutes later, shooting into the side netting after winning the ball from Mark Little just outside the area.

Steve Jennings sliced a shot wide on eight minutes after some excellent control from Savage on the left wing, but the visitors took the lead against the run of play on ten minutes. A poor back pass from Ian Goodison fell short of Danny Coyne allowing Ryan Gilligan to reach the ball first and the winger sent a low shot past the Rovers keeper and in at the far post.

The defender almost made amends on 14 minutes but, when two yards out and running on to a knock down from Savage, his shot hit the post and was then kept out by Northampton keeper Chris Dunn.

Going forward, Rovers had responded well to conceding the early goal, and had another chance when Antony Kay's shot hit the face of a defender and Sonko's follow up went straight into the hands of Dunn.

The opportunities kept coming Rovers' way, with Sonko shooting at Dunn from 12 yards on 20 minutes, Savage firing over from 20 yards and Jennings falling over when put through by Andy Taylor ten minutes later.

Finally the breakthrough came on 35 minutes. Jennings stole the ball from Jason Crowe outside the Northampton area, rolled a pass to Savage and he found the bottom right corner before giving the home fans the first glimpse of his trademark moonwalk celebration.

Three minutes later Rovers got the lead they deserved when the ball fell to Kay on the edge of the area from Gareth Edds' cross and his first time effort deflected past Dunn into the top right corner.

And it was almost 3-1 on 43 minutes when Taylor shot narrowly wide from 30 yards after spotting a gap in the goal from a free kick.

No matter. The third came in the first minute of injury time as Rovers capped a fantastic ten minute spell with Curran converting from close range after Kay's header had struck the bar and bounced inside the six yard box.

Savage and Curran combined on 47 minutes, with the latter volleying over from the edge of the area.

Sonko, who had shot from virtually every conceivable angle already this season, fired high and wide from 25 yards out on 55 minutes, while Savage's cross on 60 minutes was cut out before it reached Curran on the edge of the six yard box.

Savage, who had impressed throughout, again broke into the Northampton area on 65 minutes only for his pull back to fall short of Curran who was waiting ready to shoot on the penalty spot

Kay went down inside the area under a challenge from Liam Dolman on 68 minutes, but the referee ignored appeals from the crowd for a penalty and play continued.

Ian Moore replaced Shuker with just under 20 minutes remaining and the striker almost got on the end of a Savage cross but it was knocked out of his path by Sonko.

Curran was replaced by Chris Greenacre with two minutes remaining and the striker who led the scoring in each of the three previous seasons turned provider for the fourth, beating the offside trap before sliding the ball across the box for Moore to slot in from 16 yards with his left foot.

Referee: Mark Haywood