Tranmere Rovers.........1
FC Halifax Town...........0
A 74th minute strike from Andy Mangan finally broke FC Halifax Town’s resistance as Tranmere ground out a hard fought win at Prenton Park.
Liam Ridehalgh slipped in the former Shrewsbury striker who expertly slid ball past Matt Glennon sparking wild celebrations.
The goal was a huge relief the home side who had peppered the Shaymen’s goal but found a seemingly immovable force in between the visitors’ sticks.
Celebrating the 74th minute strike from Andy Mangan finally broke FC Halifax Town’s resistance as Tranmere ground out a hard fought win at Prenton Park.
Lois Maynard had the first shot of the night in the sixth minute from just inside the Halifax penalty area, but it was a routine save for Matt Glennon.
Mangan then found Jonny Margetts who snaked his way into the penalty area before dragging his shot just wide of the post.
The visitors sent out a warning to Rovers just before the quarter of an hour mark when Sean Tuton turned and fizzed a 20-yard effort narrowly over Scott Davies’ crossbar.
Andy Mangan scores the winner last night.
Rovers endured a hairy moment on 20 minutes when a mix-up in defence almost saw a botched clearance ricochet over Davies into the net but the Tranmere stopper was wise to the danger.
James Bolton became the first name in the referee’s notebook soon after, upending Liam Ridehalgh in full flight.
Ridehalgh swung in the ensuing corner, which was met by the head of Michael Ihiekwe, who could only steer the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.
Action from Tuesday's match at Prenton Park.
Tranmere continued to ramp up the pressure and this time Glennon was forced to palm Mangan’s shot wide before Ihiekwe headed over again from the second resulting corner.
Fans applaud the squad at Prenton Park on Tuesday night.
The visiting keeper then foiled Margetts twice in quick succession – first pushing a left foot shot away from goal before tipping a header over the bar moments later.
On the stroke of half time Halifax captain Hamza Bencherif unleashed a vicious 35-yard drive that forced Davies into a full stretch save to his left.
After the break Mangan had another chance from the edge of the Dee, but Glennon gathered his right foot shot at the second attempt.
Despite bossing possession, Rovers were struggling to get the ball down and play the type of football that could cut the Shaymen open.
Gary Brabin cut an increasingly frustrated figure on the touchline as Tranmere went searching for an elusive winner.
On 65 minutes Mangan turned in the box before poking another effort wide of the post, before Ihiekwe was cautioned for throwing the ball away as tempers frayed.
Jennings blazed a 25-yard effort over as Rovers set up camp around the Halifax penalty area.
But with magnificent support from the Prenton Park crowd Tranmere made the breakthrough with 16 minutes remaining as Mangan’s strike finally undid a stubborn Halifax side.
The Shaymen almost drew level with six minutes remaining when Jake Hibbs curled a delicious 25-yard free kick just past the post with Davies stranded, but Rovers held on to maintain their unbeaten start to the season a moved up to second in the National League.
The manager said: “We’re delighted Mangy’s got on the scoresheet. I thought he looked lively today and by his admittance he’s disappointed that he hasn’t got two or three.
“Around the ground you could just sense that anxiousness to the get the goal. I thought we played some real good football in periods and to finally get the goal.
"I said on Saturday we didn’t deserve to win the game but today I thought we thoroughly deserved to win it and if we hadn’t got that goal I think it would have been an injustice.
“(Liam Ridehalgh) has scored one and has three assists so it’s not bad for a left back is it? He’s gives us something different. He’s got good quality on the ball.
“We decided to change things round a little bit tactically today and I think it worked a treat. We’ve created a load of chances and I was delighted with that. I think we’ve limited them to very few, if any. I don’t think they troubled us too much.”
Match Stats:
Tranmere Rovers: 1, Mangan 74
FC Halifax Town: 0
Half time: 0-0
Star man: Liam Ridehalgh (Tranmere)
Attendance: 5,235
Entertainment: 4/5
Ref rating: Steven Rushton 7/10
Tranmere (4-3-3): Davies player rating 7; Ihiekwe player rating 7, Sutton 6, Riley 7, Hill 6; Jennings 6, Harris 6, Maynard 7, Ridehalgh 8, Mangan 7; Margetts 7.
Subs not used: Turner, Holness, Mekki, Stockton, Kirby.
FC Halifax Town (5-3-2): Glennon player rating 8; Bolton 6, Bencherif 7 (Hughes 77,5), Roberts 6, Brown 7; McManus 7, Hibbs 6, James 6; Whitehouse 6 (MacDonald 82, 5), Burrow 6, Tuton 6.
Subs not used: Porter, Walker, Bishop.
- Rovers will be at home again this Saturday when they host Boreham Wood.
Brush-up on Boreham:
Nickname: The Wood
Colours: White shirts, black shorts and black socks
Ground: Meadow Park
Distance from Prenton Park: 203 miles
Position last season: Second Conference South (promoted via play-offs)
The Wood are competing in the National League for the first time after prevailing against Whitehawk in the play-off final after extra time.
With four games of the season gone, they are presently in 18th place in the table, with one win and three defeats.
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