Eastleigh..................0

Tranmere Rovers.....1

A late header from James Norwood gave Tranmere a dramatic win away to Eastleigh that keeps their play-offs intact for another week.

Gary Brabin made two changes to the side that were defeated by Wrexham last Saturday, bringing in Lois Maynard and Jake Kirby for Michael Higdon and Adam Mekki respectively.

After a scrappy opening, Tranmere were awarded a free kick on four minutes, which Liam Ridehalgh took. It broke for captain Steve Jennings on the edge of the box but his control was poor and the chance was gone.

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James Norwood and Eastliegh's Jamie Turley clash in a fairly even first half. Picture: Tony Coombes

A corner for Eastleigh in the 10th minute reached Luke Coulson but his header was comfortably over the bar.

Jennings won an ariel duel on the edge of the box two minutes later which fell for Kirby, who’s shot on the turn was easily dealt with by Ross Flitney.

Lois Maynard found himself clean through on 20 minutes, but with Flitney rushing out, he failed to connect with the ball, wasting a golden opportunity.

Norwood drilled a 25-yard freekick at goal six minutes later but it was straight at Flitney.

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Lee Vaughan applauds the vocal travelling support after Rovers secure a vital three points. Picture: Tony Coombes

Steve McNulty required treatment for a cut above his eye just beyond the half hour mark as both teams put their bodies on the line.

McNulty was eventually replaced by Martin Riley at half time with the former Luton Town captain sent to hospital to check on his troublesome eye.

A touchline cross from Norwood was knocked round the post and the resultant Jeff Hughes corner had to be headed off the line by Reason as Rovers pressed.

With chances at a premium for both sides, Brabin introduced Mekki on the hour in the hope of providing Tranmere with a much-needed creative spark.

Ex-QPR midfielder Cook shrugged off Hughes before testing the palms of Scott Davies as the host sent a warning to Rovers.

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James Norwood acknowledges the travelling fans having put Rovers deservedly 1-0 in front late on. Picture: Tony Coombes

Norwood had the ball in the net with a vicious volley from the edge of the box on 67 minutes but he was flagged offside very early and it counted for nothing.

Roared on by Tranmere’s 533 away supporters behind the goal, Eastleigh cleared a succession of corners as Rovers continued to knock on the door harder.

Maynard pushed another far post header into the hands of the busy Fitney and a near post flick from Jennings was blocked by Reason as the pressure kept coming.

Eastleigh fought back and Partington cross found Reason in the middle of the goal but his header wasn’t clinical and Davies was able to claw it off the line.

With ten minutes to play, Gary Taylor-Fletcher came on for Jay Harris as Brabin played his last roll of the dice.

And with only three minutes left Rovers made the breakthrough.

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Joy for the Rovers! - The noisy 500-plus travelling support celebrate Norwood's late goal. Picture: Tony Coombes

When Maynard flicked on a Hughes free kick it wasn’t dealt with and the ball fell for Norwood in the box who looped a header over Flitney into the net, sending the travelling Super White Army wild behind the goal.

Eastleigh fired two strikes over the bar in injury time but Rovers held on for a superb victory that extends their season for another week at least.

Tranmere must now win at home Grimsby next Saturday and hope that Braintree lose at home to Altrincham to make the play-offs, but at this stage of the season anything seems possible.

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James Norwood outfoxes Eastleigh keeper Ross Flitney and his defenders to head Rovers in front in the 87th minute. Picture: Tony Coombes

Gary Brabin said: "I thought it was real good performance – professional, solid hardworking performance and I thought it was a good game of football.

"We’re just delighted that Nors got the winner and we take it to the last game of the season.

“There were some real good individual performances as well. We always felt like we could get a goal and I was just delighted when Nors scored at the end.

“He looked liked he enjoyed his football today. He was all over the place. He followed a few things in.

"It’s something we’ve been working on with him – a belief to follow things in. He did today, he believed that things were going to spill to him. It was a good goal and fitting for a good performance.

“There are always twists and turns. It’s going to the last game of the season, which creates a bit of excitement but we’re going to prepare as normal.

“Our away form has been excellent and the fans who have travelled the length and breadth of the country with us this season have been fantastic.”

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Match Stats

Eastleigh: 0

Tranmere Rovers , Norwood 87

Half time: 0-0

Star man: James Norwood (Tranmere Centre Forward)

Attendance: 3,269

Entertainment: 3/5

Ref rating: Ollie Yates (7/10)

Bookings

Eastleigh: Evans

Tranmere: None

Eastleigh (4-4-2): Flitney, Partington, Evans, Turley, Green, Reason, Strevens, Drury (Cook 57), Coulson (Payne 18), Midson (Odubade 67, Tubbs.

Subs not used: Poke, Reid

Tranmere (4-5-1): Davies; Vaughan, McNulty (Riley 46), Ihiekwe, Ridehalgh; Hughes, Maynard, Jennings, Harris (Taylor-Fletcher), Kirby (Mekki 60); Norwood.

Subs not used: Turner, Higdon