Tranmere Rovers returned to winning ways with an excellent win against MK Dons at Prenton Park by two goals to one.
Goals from David Perkins and Connor Jennings sealed the win, with Kieran Agard scoring for the visitors, but Rovers held on superbly to a valuable three points in front of the largest home league attendance of the season.
Manager Micky Mellon brought in Ben Pringle to the starting line-up against the promotion chasing Dons.
MK Dons came close within the first five minutes, a scramble in the Rovers penalty box after a corner kick resulted in Ousseynou Cisse and Kieran Agard both looking to stab the ball beyond Scott Davies but the TRFC defence managed to hack clear.
Five minutes later, the EFL League Two Player of the Season, James Norwood went through on goal on the right hand side, after a through ball from Kieron Morris, but from a tight angle, goalkeeper Lee Nicholls was able to make the save.
Both teams were looking to mark their territory on the game and it was turning into a competitive affair between two sides at the top of the League Two table. MK Dons’ physical approach in attack was proving to be a test for the central defenders whilst Norwood and Jennings were finding pockets of space in the final third.
Powerful number 10 Chuks Aneke, a graduate from Arsenal’s academy, used his strength to work his way through the Rovers backline, but Mark Ellis got across in time to put the striker off as his effort flew into the Essar Kop Stand.
Midway through the first half, Jennings cleverly picked out Norwood for strike from roughly 20 yards out, but Nicholls was equal to the attempt to turn around the post for a corner.
Tranmere drew first blood on the half hour mark, as Perkins, a revelation since joining the Club from Rochdale, connected sweetly with a first-time effort from the edge of the penalty area after a corner was cleared by the Dons defence as Rovers took the lead.
However, Tranmere’s joys were short lived as they were dealt with a double blow, as Dons equalised within two minutes as Agard flicked home a Jake Hesketh cross, with the striker putting an obvious push on Ellis for the goal, and before the game could get restarted, goal scorer Perkins had to be withdrawn with an injury.
Jay Harris came on to replace the Rovers goal scorer, and played the exact same position, and in the 41st minute, he had his first strike on goal, a tame effort which rolled kindly into the goalkeeper’s arms.
The final chance of the half fell to Hesketh, who provided the assist for Dons’ goal, but Davies made a low save to deny the visitors’ number 11.
Tranmere came out ready for a battle as they looked to regain the lead at Prenton Park, as Norwood was looking a real nuisance in the final third.
The home side were really pilling on the pressure and the SWA was right behind the team and it all came to fruition in the 62nd minute courtesy of Jennings.
With Norwood tying his shoe lace, Banks went wide to Pringle and the on loan PNE man whipped an unbelievable cross to the back post for our second highest scorer of the season, Jennings, to head home at the back post.
Tranmere were in full flow after the goal and in search of a third as Norwood nearly capitalised on a defensive mix up, but a brave header from Callum Brittain saved their blushes.
Mellon’s men, roared on by an excellent crowd at Prenton Park, managed the remainder of the game excellently to secure a valuable three points against Paul Tisdale’s men.
Tranmere Rovers’ next league game is this coming Friday, Good Friday, at Prenton Park, against Play-Off contenders Forest Green Rovers. We need you to be the 12th man once again and cheer the lads on, purchase tickets now online for cheaper by CLICKING HERE.
Tranmere team: Davies, Ridehalgh, Monthe, Ellis, Caprice, Pringle, Perkins (Harris 32), Banks, Morris, Jennings, Norwood. Unused subs: Pilling, Nelson, Buxton, Gilmour, Mullin, Dagnall.
Attendance: 8,357 (347 away)