Tranmere took their pre-season winning run to four games with a 2-1 victory over League Two side Morecambe at Christie Park.

Craig Curran and Terry Gornell were the scorers for Rovers in a first half which was by far the more entertaining of the two

Rovers' new loan signing, Godwin Antwi, was named at right back alongside the likely starting defence for the first game of the season, Ben Chorley, Antony Kay and Andy Taylor. The three man midfield consisted of trialist Charlie Barnett, Steve Jennings and George O'Callaghan, while young strikers Gornell and Curran lined up alongside Bas Savage in attack.

Danny Coyne was named on the teamsheet as the starting goalkeeper and came out onto the pitch ready for kick off but a last minute change saw John Achterberg begin the game in goal and the veteran keeper did well to keep out a shot from Fraser McLachlan in the third minute.

Rovers took the lead with their first attack on seven minutes. Savage broke free down the right wing, passed to O'Callaghan and his cut back was turned in from six yards by Curran for his fourth goal of pre-season.

It should have been two a couple of minutes later, but Gornell could only blaze over from close range after meeting Taylor's cross in the middle of the goal.

On 21 minutes Rovers did get their second. This time O'Callaghan's pass played in Curran inside the area and from his pass Barnett's shot was turned in by Gornell. 

A 20 yard curler from Jennings almost caught Morecambe keeper Barry Roche out on 33 minutes, the last effort of the half for Rovers.

Chris Greenacre, Ian Moore and Edrissa Sonko replaced Gornell, Curran and Savage at the start of the second half with Sonko making his first appearance since the Liverpool friendly.

The pace of the second half was lower than the first, with neither keeper being tested in the early stages.

Achterberg did well to palm away a shot from Rene Howe on 67 minutes but the substitute pulled a goal back for the home side eight minutes, side footing in from 12 yards out.

Ian Goodison and Paul Henry joined the action for Rovers, replacing Chorley and O'Callaghan.

Jennings almost secured the win with just a few minutes left, forcing a decent save out of Roche after good work from Sonko, Barnett and Henry.

The game ended on a sour note for Tranmere, with Henry shown a red card for a high tackle on David Artell.

Tranmere: Achterberg, Antwi, Chorley (Goodison 73), Kay, Taylor, Jennings, Barnett, O'Callaghan (Henry 70), Gornell (Sonko), Savage (Greenacre 45), Curran (Moore 45). Substitutes not used: Coyne, Holmes, Waterfall, Cresswell.

Referee: Lee Mason

Red card: Henry (90)