Tranmere Rovers............4

Bromley...........................0

Tranmere moved into the National League play-off positions after romping to victory over promotion rivals Bromley at Prenton Park.

The hosts took the lead on 28 minutes when Andy Mangan got round the back of the Bromley defence and evaded one challenge before smashing the ball past Chris Kettings at an acute angle.

Six minutes after the restart Rovers doubled their lead when Jonny Margetts blasted home 12 yards out on the half volley from a Lois Maynard cross.

With thirteen minutes to play Tranmere were awarded a penalty when Ben Chorley tripped Margetts in the box.

Mangan made no mistake from 12 yards, confidently floating his spot kick into the net.

In injury time Rovers grabbed a fourth when Margetts found space in the area and drilled a low shot past Kettings, completing a very satisfactory afternoon’s work for Gary Brabin and his improving team.

Substitute Lee Minshull was sent off in the 90th minute for a raised elbow before the livewire Harris cannoned a long range effort just over the bar.

Bromley will argue that Tranmere should have been down to 10 men when the match officials failed to spot Scott Davies handling the ball outside his penalty area in the first half, much to the dismay of the travelling contingent.

It proved be the difference as Rovers punished Bromley for their lack of prolificacy in front of goal and indiscipline in the second half.

Manager Gary Brabin said: “I thought we came out the blocks really sharp in the first five or ten minutes we put them on the back foot a bit but I thought they caused us a couple of problems.

“We weren’t happy coming in at half time even though we’d gone in one-nil up, we weren’t happy they way we were defending.

“We had a few words about that at half time and I thought second half we were solid, that’s more like how we defend and I think that gives you the springboard and platform to play on the front foot a little bit more, which we did.

“I’m delighted that two of our strikers have got two goals each.

“He’s in form at the minute, Mangy, and I love it when he’s playing like that and I think he does as well. We have our moments together me and him but he’s happy when he’s scoring goals and I’m delighted for him today and also Jonny.”

Brabin’s side now go to Wrexham on Tuesday night on the back of three consecutive victories having secured their biggest win at Prenton Park in three years.

Match Stats:

Tranmere Rovers: 4 Mangan 28, 80 Margetts 52, 90+1

Bromley: 0

Half time: 1-0

tar man: Adam Dawson (Tranmere Rovers, Left midfielder)

Attendance: 4,817

Entertainment: 4/5 R

ef rating: Michael Crusham (5/10)

Tranmere (4-4-2): Davies player rating 7; Ihiekwe 5 (Riley 33, 7), Sutton 6, Hogan 6, Hill 6; Mekki 7, Maynard 7, Harris 7, Dawson 9 (Jackson 90, NA); Mangan 8; Margetts 7.

Subs not used: Turner, Ridehalgh, Holness

Bromley (4-4-2): Kettings player rating 6, Udoji 6, Fuseni 5, Swaine 5, Holland 6 (Wall 70, 5), Prestedge 5 (Minshull 84, 4), Cook 6, Anderson 6, Dennis 6 (Joseph-Dubois 73, 6), Emmanuel 7, Chorley 6.

Subs not used: Goldberg, Wall