Chester........................2

Tranmere Rovers........3

A dramatic late strike from goal machine Andy Cook gave Tranmere Rovers victory as they came from behind twice in a stunning derby against local rivals Chester.

In front of the BT Sport cameras, the Seals took the lead with an early James Alabi penalty before Jay Harris drew Rovers level nine minutes after the break.

Ryan Astles then restored Chester’s lead before substitute James Norwood headed Rovers level.

Then as injury time approached, fellow substitute Cook delivered the crucial strike – his 18th of the season - that keeps the pressure firmly on league pace-setters Lincoln.

Micky Mellon made one enforced change to the side that mauled Barrow last time out, brining in Adam Mekki for the unfortunate Jake Kirby, who broke his leg in the FA Trophy quarter-final.

Things couldn’t have started any worse for Tranmere when Chester were awarded a penalty after only three minutes in farcical circumstances.

A charge forward by Kane Richards was ended by Steve McNulty, but with the Tranmere defence assuming a free kick had been awarded, the rear guard stopped playing.

As it was, the referee had awarded nothing of the sort and Evan Horwood continued towards goal before a stretching Lois Maynard clipped him.

This time the official ruled not only a foul, but that it was in the penalty area and awarded Chester a surprise spot kick, which Alabi converted.

Television replays confirmed that the challenge had occurred a good two yards outside the box.

As a result of the incident, Maynard hurt his hip and was unable to continue and was soon replaced by Jay Harris.

The Chester old-boy wasted no time getting involved in the action, firing over from 20 yards from Mekki’s clever lay-off.

Alex Lynch held a side foot effort from Cole Stockton before Mekki headed Andy Mangan’s cross wide, as Tranmere responded.

Rovers started to control the game, without carving out too many clear-cut chances.

Mekki saw one effort blocked before he over-hit a ball to Lee Vaughan soon after, when a shot looked the better option.

A cross from Liam Ridehalgh landed on the roof of the net just before half time as Rovers were ultimately left frustrated by the outcome of the first 45 minutes.

But Chester’s lead was nearly doubled before the break when Elliot Durrell bent a 25-yard free kick just wide of Scott Davies’ goal.

Rovers came flying out of the blocks after the break with Michael Ihiekwe heading a Hughes corner over the bar from close range in front of the partisan away support.

The Blues thought they had then doubled their lead through Astles following a spill by Davies, but he was flagged offside.

Mekki pea-rolled another shot into the clutches of Lynch before the home side’s resistance was broken.

A lose ball broke for Harris on the edge of the penalty area and with an aggressive run-up, the ex-Chester midfielder smacked a swerving low drive fully 25 yards into the net.

That sent the Super White Army mental, as blue smoke bellowed from behind the goal.

Top scorer Cook was introduced just before the half-hour mark with Rovers looking to push on for a winner.

But Davies and Ihiekwe had to combine to foil Alabi when he latched onto a through ball that split the visitors’ defence.

Chester retook the lead in the 64th minute however, when Astles flicked home a corner from Durrell.

Mellon then took his last throw of the dice, bringing on James Norwood for Mangan.

Norwood’s first involvement was to get booked for arguing with the linesman after he was called back to the sideline twice to have his studs checked.

He was to have his moment however when seven minutes from the finish the former Forest Green striker got on the end of a Ridehalgh cross to nod home the second equaliser.

It looked like Tranmere would have to settle for a point in what was a very difficult encounter, but Cook had other ideas and with time running out the ex-Barrow hit man showed why he is the most important signing of the season.

Collecting the ball on the edge of the box, Cook slammed home a breath-taking strike that burst the net and ignited scenes of bedlam.

Celebrating in front of the home fans who had baited him in the first half as he warmed up, Cook and Tranmere’s players were pelted with missiles before Rovers' supporters rushed onto the pitch in wild celebration.

Mellon told Globe Sport: “We responded to adversity last week – it’s something that we’ve spoken about and making sure that it doesn’t affect us. I think tonight was a great advertisement for that.

“We lose an early goal which isn’t a penalty. It’s a disgraceful decision, but we just kept going and got ourselves back into it.

"Then we lose a goal from a set play, which we shouldn’t with the height that we have.

“But we kept going and showed some great quality. Up pops Norwood at the back stick with a great header.

“You could just feel that it wasn’t over and then Cooky does what Cooky does best and scores an unbelievable winner.“

If Rovers are to end this season as National League champions then they will surely look back on this match as a pivotal moment that would turn even the most battle-weary Tranmere fan into a promotion believer.