JAMES Rowe helped Tranmere Rovers to a 1-1 draw against Chester with a goal in the first half of their pre-season friendly on Wednesday.

Rob Edwards named a side that was a mixture of trialists, youth scholars and professionals, with Jason Koumas starting behind Cole Stockton.

Eliot Richards had the first shot of the game on ten minutes and Antonie Boland headed over from a Koumas free kick soon after.

On 14 minutes Rovers took the lead. A long range swerving shot from Koumas was palmed up in the air by the keeper and after he was unable to gather at the second attempt Rowe tapped in from close range.

Ibou Touray fired wide after running on to a Koumas through ball on 17 minutes and Rowe tested the keeper with a right foot volley on 35 minutes after also being set up by Koumas.

The home side brought a couple of good saves out of trialist keeper Arron Jameson and equalised on the stroke of half time when a right wing cross was turned into his own net by Antonie Boland.

Substitute Cole Stockton, on for Koumas, smashed a low shot against the left hand post on 66 minutes while Jake Kirby failed with a late chance from eight yards.

Rovers start their League Two campaign on August 9 with a home fixture against York City.