Goals from Kyle Dempsey and Ched Evans proved the difference between Tranmere and Fleetwood in a well fought contest at Prenton Park.
Rovers started the game the better of the two sides with Zoumana Bakayogo curling a shot down the throat of the Fleetwood keeper, Cairns. Soon after, Norwood found space of the edge of the box and his low driven effort was saved again by Cairns.
On 13 minutes, Mullin thought he had broken the deadlock only to be denied by the raised offside flag. Banks curled a free kick on to the head of Sutton who nodded down to Mullin for an easy tap in.
The dangers signs were there from Fleetwood as Biggins rattled the post from his long range strike on the 22nd minute.
Only a minute later, Fleetwood were in front. Dempsey tried his luck from outside the box and saw his shot creep under Luke Pilling and into the back of the net for the opening goal of the game.
From then on until the break, both sides could only muster up harmless shots from outside of the area. Fleetwood went in at the break with one goal to the good.
Tranmere started the second half the brighter of the two teams. Two successive corners resulted in Jennings heading over the bar at the back post. A few moments later, Cole and Norwood linked up down the right which saw Norwood’s left footed strike sail over the bar.
On the 72nd minute, Fleetwood were gifted a chance to double their lead as McNulty stood on the ball and gave away possession to the on rushing attacker. Luckily for Rovers, his shot curled past the post.
Fleetwood did eventually put the game to bed as on loan striker Ched Evans swept home a cross from the right hand side on the half-volley in the 84thminute.
Tranmere: Pilling (George 46), Bakayogo, Sutton (Ellis 69), McNulty, Monthe, Tollitt (Cole 46), Banks (Gilmour 69), Norburn (Castana 79), Jennings (Tonge 69), Mullin (Harris 46), Norwood.
Unused subs: Spellman