Tranmere Rovers defeated league leaders Mansfield Town at Prenton Park on Tuesday evening thanks to goals from Regan Hendry and Rob Apter.
Mansfield had the first chance of the game seven minutes in when Will Swan had a free header in the centre of the six-yard box but nodded over.
However, Rovers grabbed the first goal after 12 minutes, when Hendry struck from the left edge of the penalty area past Christy Pym in the visitors’ net following a smart flick from Kieron Morris to set him up.
Rovers went close to a second on 25 minutes when Brad Walker drilled a free kick at Pym who could only palm it behind for a corner.
Tranmere had another chance two minutes later when a deflection fell kindly to Kieron Morris in the Mansfield box, but his effort at goal drifted wide.
Mansfield almost levelled on 33 minutes when Swan went diving in to meet a ball at the back post, but Connor Wood had it covered on the line before the referee pulled play back for a free kick anyway.
The visitors did in fact level on 39 minutes through Swan who met a cross to tip home and equalise to take us in for half time at 1-1.
Tranmere came out of the blocks well in the second period and put a smart move together on the right, leading to a Walker cross which only just evaded the Rovers front line.
Apter had a couple of chances when cutting inside onto that left foot, once being fouled on the edge of the box to win Rovers a free kick in a promising position, but a training ground routine was well dealt with by Mansfield.
Rovers retook the lead through that man Apter on 56 minutes when the winger fired a shot past Pym and into the bottom corner.
The league leaders fought back and substitute Davis Keillor-Dunn forced a smart save down low from Luke McGee shortly after the hour mark.
A second equaliser almost came the way of the visitors on 71 minutes when Swan looked to beat McGee again with a low shot into the corner, but the keeper had it covered as the effort went wide.
McGee produced an excellent save to prevent Mansfield substitute Stephen Quinn as we approached the final five minutes of the game, shortly after Tranmere substitute Dennis had tested Pym at the other end.
Tranmere ultimately held out to record a fantastic win over the league leaders.
Tranmere Rovers: Luke McGee, Lee O’Connor, Joe Yarney, Jordan Turnbull, Connor Wood, Rob Apter (Dan Pike, 90+3), Regan Hendry, Brad Walker, Kieron Morris (Luke Norris, 82), Harvey Saunders (Kristian Dennis, 82), Connor Jennings (C).
Unused subs: Joe Murphy, Josh Hawkes, Reece McAlear, Jean Belehouan.
Mansfield Town: Christy Pym, Baily Cargill (Stephen McLaughlin, 82), Lucas Akins, George Maris (Hiram Boateng, 55), Aden Flint (C), Aaron Lewis (Davis Keillor-Dunn, 62), Tom Nichols (Stephen Quinn, 82), George Williams (Jordan Bowery, 62), Lewis Brunt, Louis Reed, Will Swan.
Unused subs: James Gale, Scott Flinders.
