Tranmere Rovers secured a vital three points on the road this Saturday afternoon after taking all three points away from Salford City at the Peninsula Stadium.
Josh Hawkes’ first half strike was enough to see off The Ammies in a keenly fought contest in Sky Bet League Two.
The opening exchanges were fairly cagey with both sides enjoying spells of possession on the ball without creating anything clear cut. The first chance for Rovers fell to Rhys Hughes who was fed by Kane Hemmings inside the box but his placed effort was blocked by Leak.
Tranmere fashioned another half chance in the 22nd minute. Dacres-Cogley created space on the right before fizzing a cross onto the head of Nevitt but his header went back to where it came from rather than on target.
With ten minutes until the interval, Tranmere found the breakthrough. Rhys Hughes slid a ball through to Dacres-Cogley on the right, his cross found its way to Josh Hawkes at the back post who cooly finished into the back of the net to give Rovers the advantage at the break.
Tranmere started the second half in the same manner that they finished the first. Rhys Hughes wasted no time in testing King in the Salford net, forcing him to tip over the bar with a half volley from the edge of the box.
The resulting corner forced King to make an incredible save. Dynel Simeu leapt to meet Ethan Bristow’s corner from the right and powered a downwards header but King somehow clawed it away with lightning reactions.
Simoes provided a direct threat for the hosts to keep the Tranmere defence on their toes by cutting inside and driving a powerful shot which Simeu blocked.
Salford were growing into the game and nearly had a golden chance to draw level. Touray got in behind at the back post before cutting back towards Simoes who couldn’t get his shot away ten yards from goal before O’Connor cleared.
The hosts brought on big centre forward Matt Smith and he almost provided an instant impact. A Salford corner ended in a goal mouth scramble which Smith turned onto the post from close range.
After weathering a brief Salford spell, Ethan Bristow charged down the left hand side and crossed onto the boot of a stretching Kane Hemmings who could only get enough on the cross to send it a yard wide of the post.
Hemmings threatened again moments later. He controlled on the edge of the box before sending a dipping shot over the head of King but onto the cross bar to the despair of the SWA behind the goal.
Some late Salford pressure and hopeful shots from distance were well dealt with by Rovers to secure a much needed three points and clean sheet on their travels.
Tranmere Team: Doohan, Dacres-Cogley, Turnbull, Simeu, Bristow, Hughes (Morris 73’), O’Connor, McAlear, Hawkes (Lewis 77’), Hemmings, Nevitt (Byrne 88’)