A five star performance from Tranmere Rovers as goals from James Vaughan (2), Peter Clarke, Otis Khan and Paul Lewis sealed an empathic 5-0 win against Grimsby Town at Prenton Park.
Rovers were four goals up by the 33rd minute with Vaughan scoring from a header and a penalty, Clarke scoring his third header of the campaign, and Khan scoring his second in three league matches. The win was sealed late in the second half by substitute Lewis, after his return from injury.
Liam Feeney and Lee O’Connor returned to the starting line up for the game against the Mariners, as Sid Nelson and Danny Lloyd drooped to the bench.
TRFC were bright and energetic in the opening stages and scored the opening goal within the first ten minutes as Vaughan headed home Calum MacDonald’s cross.
Tranmere were throwing everything at the Mariners and a mazy run by goalscorer Vaughan teed up his strike partner, Corey Blackett-Taylor but our number 11 hit wide of the mark, off balance.
Grimsby’s first sight on goal came in the 22nd minute, Owura Edwards shot from just inside the box was deflected wide by a diving white shirt for a corner.
Rovers went 2-0 up in the 26th minute as Clarke’s excellent goal scoring form continued as he met a Liam Feeney corner, with his first header saved, the centre back nodded home.
Blackett-Taylor was tripped in the box after beating two Grimsby defenders, and for his efforts, Rovers were awarded a penalty as Vaughan hammered home as Tranmere went three to the good before the half hour mark.
Rovers were running riot and went 4-0 up in the 33 minutes as Khan scored a fantastic solo goal as he took the ball past three Town defenders, and on the turn, he curled the ball into the far corner past the goalkeeper.
Grimsby had another late opportunity through Edwards, but a dominant Tranmere went into the interval with a healthy advantage against Ian Holloway’s men.
Into the second half, and it was a much quieter affair, as Tranmere controlled the game with very little threat from the visitors.
In terms of chances, Tranmere were looking threat through Feenay and Blackett-Taylor but nothing substantial came to fruition on the visitors goal.
In the 71st minute, Rovers made a double alteration, as Kaiyne Woolery and Paul Lewis came on for Feeney and Blackett-Taylor.
Seven minutes later, Morgan Ferrier was introduced for Vaughan and the fourth sub, for the first time since the rule was put into place, saw Danny Lloyd on for Khan.
And the substitutes soon combined superbly as excellent hold up attacking play by Ferrier found Lewis in acres of space to bend the ball into the far left hand corner for goal number five.
TRFC comfortably saw out the remainder of the game to seal a third league win in a row.
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TRFC: Davies, O’Connor, Clarke, Monthe, MacDonald, Spearing, Feeney (Lewis 71), Khan (Lloyd 81), Morris, Blackett-Taylor (Woolery 71), Vaughan (Ferrier 80). Unused subs: Murphy, Nelson, Banks.