Tranmere Rovers suffered narrow defeat on Tuesday night against Bradford City under the Prenton Park floodlights.
A brace from Andy Cook either side of a Kane Hemmings goal was enough to see the Bantams return to Yorkshire with all three points.
The first half was one mainly dominated by the visitors who started the game really brightly and took the lead after just three minutes. Richie Smallwood’s corner from the left was met by an unmarked Andy Cook inside the six yard box who leapt highest to give the Bantams the lead.
Not long after, Bradford struck the woodwork. A deep cross into the box was met by Matty Platt who headed the ball downwards and onto the left hand post before bouncing to safety.
The game was limited in terms of chances from that point until the 36th minute. Rovers latched onto a couple of loose balls before Elliott Nevitt shifted the ball onto his right foot and shot low into the legs of Crichlow inside the box.
Just before the break, Tranmere had another half decent chance. Ethan Bristow paced down the left to eventually find Dacres-Cogley at the far post who could also only see his shot blocked as it headed goalwards.
After being told to up the tempo in the second half, that was exactly what happened. Paul Lewis and Elliott Nevitt won the ball back inside the Bradford half before feeding Kane Hemmings inside the box who expertly curled into the top left corner of the goal to put Rovers on level terms.
A matter of minutes later, Hemmings nearly completed the turnaround. A poor defensive header looped into the air on the edge of the box where Hemmings was waiting and his left footed volley skimmed the post and was agonisingly close to giving Tranmere the advantage.
Another chance went begging for Micky Mellon’s side on the 65th minute. Elliott Nevitt was the one to meet Ethan Bristow’s inviting cross from the left but the striker could only glance wide of the far post.
Those missed chances would prove costly as Rovers were struck with a sucker punch on the 75th minute. A hopeful cross from the left was firmly met by the header of Andy Cook once again and the former Tranmere favourite thundered a header past Doohan to send the away fans into raptures.
Rovers nearly responded immediately. Lee O’Connor turned well in midfield before picking out Paul Lewis inside the box with a pinpoint pass but his header wasn’t directed on target to trouble his namesake Lewis in the Bradford goal.
That was to be the last of the goalmouth action as Bradford held on for the victory on the Wirral.