Charlie Barnett netted a hat-trick as Rovers kept up their unbeaten start to the season with a 3-0 win over Rochdale at Rossendale FC's Dark Lane in the totesport.com League West Division.

The midfielder, who joined Tranmere from Liverpool in the summer, scored his first goal on 13 minutes, sending in a free kick which was missed by defenders and attackers and beat the Rochdale keeper.

His second came on 69 minutes when he rifled a shot into the top corner from 20 yards, and the hat-trick was completed three minutes later. Barnett ran into the area with the ball, was fouled, and picked himself up to slot in the resulting penalty.

Coach Shaun Garnett said: "It was a good performance from the lads, they played really well and deserved the win. We had a really young front three and the experience will have done them a lot of good."

Tranmere: Achterberg, Holmes, Taylor, Waterfall, Cresswell, Henry, Barnett, Ahmed, Mackreth, Ashcroft (Corrigan 70), Wilson. Subtitutes not used: Fraughan, Kennedy, Denson, Jones.