Defender Jake Caprice returned from injury to complete an hour for Tranmere Rovers reserve side in a 2-0 home loss to Blackpool.
Two second-half Ewan Bange strikes grabbed victory for the Seasiders at a wet Campus training ground against a Rovers side mixed with first team experience and youth.
The Tangerines dominated possession in the early stages, with Rovers content to hold a solid shape and look to threaten on the counter attack. Youth team striker, Bailey Thompson, nearly got the breakthrough for TRFC but his shot was well saved with eight minutes gone on the clock.
Blackpool had a chance 26 minutes in, but the effort was blazed over Luke Pilling’s crossbar, before a neat one-two between youngster George Nugent and Harvey Gilmour resulted in Nugent stinging the palms of the keeper.
A minute into the second period, Pilling produced an eye-catching fingertip save from point-blank range. Soon after, Thompson rifled a left-footed hit from the edge of the box which was tipped over the bar.
On the hour mark, the visitors broke the deadlock. Bange rounded Pilling and slotted home into the empty net.
Five minutes later, the lead was doubled. After an initial smart stop by the Englishman, the ball fell to the feet of Bange who made no mistake to clinch his second of the game.
Despite the task of rescuing a point becoming more difficult, Rovers maintained their drive to score goals. Summer acquisition, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, narrowly fired over in the 75th minute.
Gilmour then curled one from range hitting the target but that proved to be the last piece of action.
Report by Joe Sargent.