Eastleigh..........................0

Tranmere Rovers.............2

Swashbuckling Tranmere gunned down the Spitfires in Hampshire with goals from Ben Tollitt and James Norwood earning an impressive away win over Eastleigh.

The Whites had to wait an hour for winger Tollitt to break the deadlock, after squandering a succession of guilt-edged chances, before Norwood put the game beyond the host’s reach late on.

With Adam Buxton suspended and James Wallace injured, Lee Vaughan and Lois Maynard returned to side as Mellon kept faith with the attacking formation that had impressed in the fist half last weekend against Bromley.

The Spitfires were keen to make an early impression and Ross Stern tried an effort from 25 yards that flashed past the wrong side of Scott Davies’ post.

The Rovers goalkeeper then found himself in no man’s land after rushing out – but not beating – Scott Wilson to the ball. Fortunately, Jeff Hughes was on hand to spare any blushes.

Tranmere responded and twice went close, when Ihiekwe sent a bullet header just over the bar before a left-footed free kick from Jack Dunn curled inches wide with the ‘keeper beaten.

Tricky Tollitt then beat Hakeem Odoffin and crossed for Andy Cook, but his header was off target.

A great chances was wasted shortly before the half hour mark when from an Eastleigh corner, Tranmere counter-attacked at pace but with Cook to his left and Norwood to his right, Dunn instead blazed over himself.

Micky Mellon’s men looked certain to score when Norwood beat the offside trap and found himself clean through on goal but without a goal since early December, he couldn’t sort his feet out and squandered the chance before Dunn sent yet another effort over the bar to complete a frustrating opening 45 minutes.

Davies had to be at his best early in the second half to tip one of Sam Muggleton’s cruise missile throw-ins around the post.

Davies and Steve McNulty then scrambled a dangerous corner from under the crossbar to safety.

Dunn picked the pocket of Muddleton and was denied a goal scoring opportunity by the Eastleigh defender, who held him back, but the referee tried to play advantage and Tranmere had to settle for a corner.

Dunn’s out-swinger was met by McNulty, who rattled the post, in what was the nearest Rovers had come to breaking the deadlock.

But Davies had to be at his best when Craig McAllister saw his glancing header tipped around the post.

Rovers took the lead on the hour when Tollitt collected the ball up on the left flank, cut inside and steered the ball home.

Both Dunn and Norwood saw shots blocked before the former stole the ball from Muggleton and squared for Cook, but he too could only produce the same outcome.

The lively Dunn volleyed an effort just wide with 17 minutes remaining, as Rovers continued to hold a slender advantage.

But on 86 minutes the contest was ended when Tollitt hit Eastleigh on the break and squared for Norwood, who slid home from eight yards for his tenth goal of the season and his first since December 4.

Mellon said: “I think we would have to be honest and say I think it was five clear-cut chances in the first half. I mean absolutely clear-cut. We would be disappointed with the quality we’ve got up there, not to take them.

“In the second half we hit the bar and have another couple of one-on-ones so you’re thinking, we’re going to have to take one of these soon lads.

“But the pitch was poor to be fair, but over the whole 90 minutes I think it’s probably the first 90 minutes that really we’ve put together since I’ve been here, which is very pleasing.

“They did everything that was asked of them very well.

"The pleasing thing is at this stage of the season games are going to be like that and you have to be able to tough it out – but we though’d it out with some style I think and some quality.

"Everyone here would have to say that we were deserved winners."

Rovers are in action again on Tuesday evening when they host Boreham at Prenton Park.

Match Stats:

Eastleigh 0

Tranmere Rovers 2 Tollitt 60, Norwood 86

Half time: 0-0

Star man: Ben Tollitt (Tranmere midfielder)

Attendance: 2,475 (471 away)

Entertainment: 4/5

Ref rating: Constantine Hatzidakis (7/10)

Eastleigh (4-4-2): Stack; Odoffin, Dugdale, Obileye, Muggleton; Leacock-McLeod (Matthews 65), Togwell, Strevens, Stearn; Wilson (Constable 65), McAllister (Cole 81)

Subs not used: Clarke, Close

Tranmere (4-2-4): Davies, Vaughan, Ihiekwe, McNulty, Ridehalgh, Tollitt, Maynard, Hughes, Dunn (Kirby 84), Norwood, Cook

Subs not used: Turner, Mangan, Sutton, Jennings.