Solihull Moors 2 Tranmere Rovers 0
TRANMERE's involvement in the FA Trophy ended on Monday evening after a hastily-rearranged fixture saw Micky Mellon's side dumped out of the competition at the second attempt by Solihull Moors.
Rovers had led the first round tie 1-0 on Saturday after an Ollie Norburn free kick gave them the lead, but a floodlight failure at the Automated Technology Group stadium saw the match abandoned early, forcing it to be replayed 48 hours later.
Mellon picked the same side for the re-run, with young goalkeeper Luke Pilling retaining his place, but an early James Osborne wonder strike and a penalty five minutes before the break from Jermaine Hylton gave Solihull a 2-0 lead in a cup-tie they had initially been losing 1-0.
Despite picking a virtually full-strength side, Rovers could not match the renewed appetite of their hosts – who currently reside at the bottom of the National League – and despite some late half chances a comeback never realistically looked like being on the cards.
Connor Jennings fights off the challenge of Solihull’s Paul Green during replay at the Automated Technology Group Stadium. Picture: Tony Coombes
Things got worse for Tranmere in stoppage time when goal scorer Hylton received a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Adam Buxton.
The Rovers defender could now be looking at a spell on the side-lines as a result of his injuries.
Few supporters will be overly concerned about Tranmere exiting the FA Trophy in the first round – it is seen by most as an unwanted distraction from the main business of seeking a return to the Football League.
This was reflected in the match attendance – just 215 – believed to be the lowest for a first team game in the club’s history.
Micky Mellon will now turn his attention to the much more important matter of trying to overcome high-flying Sutton United on Saturday.
Victory down south would put the Whites in touching distance of the play-offs places and well positioned to launch an assault on promotion in the new year.
Tranmere team: Pilling, Buxton, Sutton, McNulty, Clarke, Mottley-Henry, Banks, Norburn, Jennings, Cook, Norwood
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