Tranmere Rovers...........1

Braintree Town..............0

Tranmere are breathing down the necks of league-leaders Lincoln after an Andy Cook rocket did for Braintree Town at Prenton Park.

Rovers missed a host of gilt-edged chances including an open goal and penalty but would not be denied as Cook’s second half strike kept the Whites within two points of the National League summit.

Despite making two new signings midweek, Micky Mellon kept faith with the starting XI that thumped lowly North Ferriby on Tuesday night.

There was a place on the bench for Wolves loanee Aaron Collins but fellow acquisition Erico Sousa, who has arrived at Prenton Park via Accrington Stanley, was allowed to enjoy a free afternoon in the sunshine.

Inside two minutes Tranmere should have been one to the good, when Andy Cook put James Norwood clean through on goal, but the striker put his shot the wrong side of the post, wasting the opportunity.

A miscommunication between Ritchie Sutton and Steve McNulty presented an opportunity to Reece Hall-Jonson at the other end of the pitch, but his 20-yard effort was gathered by Scott Davies at the second attempt.

Cook then put a strike from a similar range wide, as Rovers resumed the attacking initiative.

A clever flick from Norwood released Connor Jennings on 25 minutes, but his right foot shot was also just wide.

More neat interchange between the attacking duo ended with Jennings’ cross being nodded behind for a corner with Cook lurking at the back post.

An audacious 35-yard chip from Sam Corne sailed harmlessly over Davies’ goal as Rovers continued to control the game, without particularly troubling the goalkeeper.

But how Tranmere failed to take the lead seven minutes before the break only Cook will be able to tell you.

A free kick effort from Jeff Hughes was spilt by Ben MacNamara but with the goal at his mercy, Cook somehow managed to crash a shot of the base of the post before a startled Norwood saw his rebound bounce into the arms of the Braintree ‘keeper.

Norwood flashed a volley over the bar before the break, completing a frustrating first 45 minutes for the hosts.

Efforts at either end from Jay Harris and Michael Cheek both ended with the ball in the stands behind the goal as the search for an illusive opener continued after the break.

But the Prenton Park faithful didn’t have to wait for much longer as the deadlock was finally broken in the 54th minute.

A wide ball over the top was collected by Cook, who cut inside – beating his marker – before smashing the ball home for his 21st goal of the season.

A shot from Hall-Johnson flashed just wide, as Braintree responded.

Jay Harris struck another effort wide before substitute Adam Mekki was flagged offside as he tried to divert Vaughan’s cross towards goal.

Corne forced a low save out of Davies but could make little out of the resultant corner as the visitors tried to stay in the contest.

With 20 minutes to play Tranmere were awarded a penalty when Norwood was poleaxed in the penalty area by McNamara.

But having missed from 12 yards at North Ferriby, Hughes saw his spot-kick saved before the goalkeeper heroically kept out the rebound.

Mekki fired a long-range effort over, before Hughes saw a free kick held by McNamara, as Rovers continued to toil for a second.

But they had Michael Ihiekwe to thank for preventing Braintree from pulling level after he headed one off the line with eight minutes remaining.

Then on 87 minutes, Cheek found the side netting as Tranmere continued to live dangerously.

Cheek headed another effort over on the stroke of injury time, but Rovers hung on, keeping their promotion push on track.

Micky Mellon said: "f you think about the amount of clear cut chances that we had, with the quality of players that we’ve got you would think they were nailed on to score them.

“When that happens and you miss a penalty and the stakes – how high they are, with the opportunity to go two points behind the league leaders – it’s going to become a wee bit nervy and about digging it.

“That’s what they’ve done. The crowd today were magnificent, they’ve got right behind us and stuck with us and roared us on to a fantastic three points.

“We knew we had to get three points today.

"If you’d offered me the chance earlier in the season to be two points behind the league leaders with nine to play I’d have snatched both your hands off.”

Rovers are in league action again on Tuesday this week when they host Dover at Prenton Park. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.