Tranmere Rovers advanced through to the third round of the Cheshire Senior Cup after a 4-1 victory against Cammell Laird.
Goals from Sam Taylor, Jamie Timlin (X2) and Keyni Mills was enough to see a young Rovers side earn a hard fought victory.
Rovers started the brighter of the two teams as consecutive crosses from Dylan Dwyer caused problems for the home side. First, Timlin headed over the bar before Taylor poked wide at the far post after the Lairds’ keeper had been caught underneath the ball.
Lairds had a promising chance of their own when winning a free kick right on the edge of the box however Downey’s powerful free kick was well blocked by the Tranmere wall.
Shortly after, Tranmere broke the deadlock. Mills worked the ball into the feet of Taylor who shifted the ball onto his left foot and buried it past the home keeper with aplomb. A fine way to mark his first professional contract.
However, just ten minutes later and the home side were level. A corner from the left went over the head of Dineley and was headed firmly into the back of the net by Kieron Hamm to equalise for Lairds.
Just before half time, Tranmere nearly edged back in front. Robbie Capps crossed from the right and forced the keeper to tip over his cross bar, denying a fortunate goal.
Similar the first half, Tranmere started the quickest and edged ahead once more trough Jamie Timlin. The striker received the ball 18 yards out, turned and slotted the ball beneath Davidson in the host’s net.
Almost immediately after, Rovers skipper Kyle Hayde broke into space in the box and unleashed a powerful effort which Davidson was equal to with a strong hand.
With ten minutes to go and Lairds pushing for an equaliser, Tranmere found a third goal. Timlin again the scorer as he whipped a shot into the left hand corner from 25 yards. A perfectly placed finish.
The Camels responded well and carved out a great chance to half the deficit. Downey cut the ball back to the penalty spot for Ethan Galt to shoot but a combination of Joe Haley and James Dineley kept the ball out.
In the closing stages, Rovers rounded off the scoring. Kyle Hayde burst forward and slid the ball through to Keyni Mills. He had just the keeper to beat and placed an effort around him. The ball cannoned off the post and landed in the far corner of the goal, making it 4-1.
That was the last of the action and Tranmere will head to the third round of the Cheshire Senior Cup. Details of that fixture will be released in due course.
Tranmere team: Dineley, Capps, Haley, Cain, Dwyer, Hayde, Jones, Bamgbose, Taylor, Timlin, Mills
Subs: Murray, Clark, Edwards, Flight