Mike Jones, Craig Curran and Peter Jones were on target as Rovers won their final Pontin's Holidays League Cup match.

However, the result was not enough for them to qualify the next round, with Shrewsbury and Blackburn Rovers finishing ahead of Jason McAteer's side on goal difference alone.

Rovers fielded a strong side, with nine professionals including Kevin Ellison and Calvin Zola, and the pair had both gone close before the home side eventually took the lead. A foul on Tremarco on the edge of the area gave Rovers a free kick and Mike Jones brilliantly curled over the wall and into the top left corner.

On 56 minutes the lead was doubled and Rovers were closer to the target of a four clear goal win to finish in second place. The goal came from a defensive mistake after Michael Johnston's cross wasn't cleared and Curran shot high into an empty net from the right side of the area.

12 minutes later Shrewsbury pulled a goal back through Chris Humphrey, but the advantage was back up to two goals with 17 minutes left, when substitute Peter Jones headed in from an Ellison corner.

Late on Ellison and Harrison came close, but Rovers were unable to score the extra two goals needed.

Tranmere: McWeeney, Johnston (Peter Jones 64), Holmes, Henry, Tremarco, Mike Jones, Harrison, Jennings, Ellison, Zola, Curran. Substitutes: Beahon, Ferguson, Corrigan, Cresswell.