TRANMERE 3, ALDERSHOT TN 1

A CLASSIC and sharply contrasting game of two halves left Aldershot Town deflated at the end of an exhausting five days on the road.

After travelling 1100 miles in visiting Barrow and The Wirral, the Shots probably deserved to be two goals ahead at half-time on Tuesday.

A dominant display for 45 minutes was exacerbated by Tranmere’s own lethargy, but James Norwood’s injury-time equaliser proved the catalyst for a rousing second-half comeback by Rovers.

Former Aldershot winger Adam Mekki then snatched the vital second goal to leave manager Barry Smith admitting: “It slipped out of our own hands. We more than held our own in the first half, but conceded a soft goal in injury time and that’s probably where we fell down today. The defensive lapses have cost us.

“It was a big turning point,” he said about Omar Beckles’ attempted clearance that hit Norwood and allowed him to slot a composed shot underneath Dan Thomas. “Some of the players have to hold their hands up and say we made mistakes, but I’m not going to be too hard on my defenders. We’ve had some great victories recently.”

Tranmere, although unbeaten in five games, made an incoherent start and were behind in just five minutes after a crisp, incisive Aldershot move. Jay Harris gave the ball away in defence and within seconds, abetted by Jake Gallagher, Richard Brodie and a return pass from Charlie Walker, Sam Hatton had placed a shot past Scott Davies into the net.

The visitors had claims for a greater lead as Rovers fans soon voiced their frustration. Rhys Browne skipped around Davies and momentarily celebrated a second goal until an offside flag – possibly erroneous, given the debate over which player a defensive clearance hit in rebounding into his path – silenced the hitherto vociferous 100 supporters in the away end.

Tranmere’s equaliser, from a long punt out of defence which first Jack Saville and then Beckles failed to deal with, was entirely avoidable, but still there seemed to be ample opportunity for Aldershot to simply go out and win the game all over again in the second half.

Roles were immediately reversed, however, and suddenly it was Tranmere playing with confidence as the Shots lost their cutting-edge.

Mekki poached the second goal on 69 minutes, ensuring the ball accompanied him into the back of the net after he was first to react to Dan Thomas parrying Steven Jennings’ shot onto the crossbar.

Aldershot had little by way of a response and two devilish crosses through the goalmouth from Mekki carried the greater threat, despite the attacking substitutions made by Smith.

Nick Anderton cleared a shot from Norwood off the line before Rovers confirmed victory in the 91st minute. Norwood’s deft pass found Andy Mangan making an incisive run into the box and, after rounding Thomas, he finished with ease.

In the end, Tranmere’s victory was as comfortable as it had appeared unlikely at half-time.

“These boys have been on a good run and we’ll go back on a good run,” declared Smith in acknowledging both the quality in his own team and the eventual strength of the opposition.

Tranmere: Davies; Maynard, Ihiekwe, Sutton, Hill; Dawson (Margetts 90), Jennings, Harris, Mekki; Blissett (Mangan 46), Norwood. Subs (not used): Ridehalgh, Turner, Gumbs. Booked: Jennings.

Aldershot: Thomas; Alexander, Beckles, Saville, Anderton; Hatton (Barnes-Homer 78), Stevenson, Gallagher, Browne (D Walker 65); C Walker, Brodie. Subs (not used): Dawber, Harris, Lathrope. Booked: Beckles, Barnes-Homer.

Referee: Adrian Holmes.

Attendance: 4,126 (100 away).