Tranmere Rovers picked up a valuable point on the road in Wiltshire on Saturday afternoon with a 1-1 draw away at Swindon Town.
Josh Hawkes’ opener was cancelled out by Jacob Wakeling’s equaliser in an entertaining encounter at the County Ground.
Tranmere started off brightly in this one and set about trying to impose themselves on the game when Josh Dacres-Cogley’s cross was met by Josh Hawkes at the back post who nodded down to Kane Hemmings but he couldn’t quite get his shot away on the turn.
Hemmings was again looking lively not long after when he shifted the ball on the edge of the box and looked to catch Brynn out at the near post but he read it well to deny him.
Tranmere’s early pressure paid off on the tenth minute with a really well crafted goal. Chris Merrie collected the ball in midfield and threaded a perfect pass through to Josh Hawkes who kept his cool to fire into the far corner to give Tranmere the advantage.
Rovers looked to turn the screw and capitalise on the positive start. Elliott Nevitt found space in the box and crossed low towards Kane Hemmings who would have had a tap in if it wasn’t for the interception of Blake-Tracey
Shortly after, Elliott Nevitt found space in behind and looked to let loose with his right foot but Cian Harries slid in excellently to block and deny him.
Despite Tranmere’s early dominance, the hosts drew level, Remeao Hutton drove forward on the right and drilled a low cross towards the back post where Jacob Wakeling was waiting to tap home from close range.
Rovers started the second period with the same endeavour as the first half. Kane Hemmings collected the ball midway into the Swindon half and carried the ball forward before shooting narrowly over the bar with his left foot.
Ethan Bristow was finding joy down the left hand side as he paced forward before cutting back to Josh Hawkes whose left footed effort was deflected wide.
The home supporters wanted to see more from their team and The Robins responded when Khan unleashed a low shot towards Doohan’s near post but he had it covered as it landed a few yards wide.
Bristow again ventured forward before curling in a cross which eventually dropped to Kieron Morris who volleyed with his left foot but that was well blocked by a sea of red shirts.
Another good opportunity came the way of Micky Mellon’s men when Elliott Nevitt had the freedom of the Swindon half to run into with it being four on three in Tranmere’s favour. He weighed up his options and decided to go for goal himself but blazed well over the bar from the edge of the box.
There was a scare for Rovers when Swindon had the ball in the back of the net in the 82nd minute. Wakeling controlled from Hutton’s cross and drilled low into the far corner but the celebrations were cut short when the linesman had his flag up for offside.
The hosts came close again to stealing it at the death. Louis Reed’s dipping free kick was clawed out of the top corner by Ross Doohan to keep the scores level.
As the clocked ticked into added time, Tranmere launched one last counter attack. Josh Dacres-Cogley paced down the right and looked to pick out a waiting Kane Hemmings inside the box but it was just behind him and he couldn’t get enough purchase on it to beat Brynn.
In the dying seconds, Jordan Turnbull was dismissed for a high foot on the touchline.
That was the last of action in what was a good avert for League Two football with the spoils being shared between the two sides with Rovers taking a point back to the Wirral.
Tranmere team: Doohan, Dacres-Cogley, Turnbull, Simeu, Bristow, Hawkes (Hughes 85’), Merrie, O’Connor, Morris (Davies 89’), Nevitt (Burton 83’), Hemmings