Tranmere Rovers suffered a 1-0 defeat on the road on Saturday afternoon to the hands of Mansfield Town.
Riley Harbottle’s second half goal was the difference between the two sides at a sunny One Call Stadium.
Rovers began the game with a very early strong penalty shout. Elliott Nevitt found space in behind the Mansfield defence before having his arm blatantly dragged back in the box and going to ground. The referee waved play on.
Not long after, Hiram Boateng had the first real chance of note for the home side as his low shot from the corner of the box was pounced on by Doohan before Oates could connect.
On the 20th minute, Reece McAlear played a cute ball in behind for Kane Hemmings, he turned inside the box and clipped a ball towards Elliott Nevitt but Hawkins got there first to clear.
Kane Hemmings latched on to a back pass on the half hour mark and only had the keeper to beat from an awkward angle. The striker attempted to squeeze it through Pym’s legs in the Stags’ goal but the keeper gathered.
The home side had a glorious chance of their own just before half time. A series of crosses were delivered into the Rovers box before Hemmings eventually cleared a flicked effort off the line.
Mansfield broke the deadlock with 60 minutes on the clock. Hiram Boateng’s corner from the right was bundled over the line by Riley Harbottle from close range to put the home side ahead.
Rovers huffed and puffed and produced the best chance of the second half in the 85th minute. Dacres-Cogley found space down the right and cut the ball back to Paul Lewis inside the box who looked destined to score but his shot was save by Pym.
As Tranmere pushed for an equaliser, the spaces started to open up. Ollie Clarke broke forward and rattled Ross Doohan’s near post with a left footed drive.
With the last chance of the game, Doohan produced an outstanding save to deny Lucas Akins’ acrobatic effort from close range.
Mansfield held on to secure all three points at the One Call Stadium as Rovers’ attention turns to Carabao Cup action against Accrington Stanley on Tuesday night.
Tranmere team: Doohan, Dacres-Cogley, Kyle Jameson, Neill Byrne, Luke Robinson, Ethan Bristow, Lee O’Connor, Paul Lewis, Reece McAlear (Jon Nolan 80’), Elliott Nevitt, Kane Hemmings