Two late goals see Tranmere Rovers throw away victory over Kidderminster Harriers

Kidderminster Harriers.........2

Two late goals from Gurjit Singh and Reece Styche saw Kidderminster Harriers grab a draw at Prenton Park as Tranmere threw away victory.

The hosts took the lead after 20 minutes when Liam Ridehalgh swung a low cross in from the left which was turned in by Liam Hogan.

Within six minutes Rovers doubled their advantage when Lois Maynard flicked a high ball into the path of Mangan who justified wearing pink boots by turning in the box before curling a right foot shot into the top corner of the net.

Andy Mangan on the ball for Tranmere Rovers during their match against Kidderminster Harriers. Picture: Richard Ault

But the Harriers responded though Singh with seven minutes to play before Styche grabbed a soul-destroying equaliser in injury time.

Looking to atone for defeats against Boreham Wood and Altrincham, Tranmere started brightly with Adam Mekki whipping a low ball in at the second attempt for Rovers in the eighth minute but Nathan Blissett could not get on the end of it.

Mangan tried his luck from 25 yards in the 14th minute when his right foot shot forced a low save out of Alex Palmer.

Mekki saw a 20th minute strike deflected over for a corner as Rovers forced the issue. The visitors cleared the dead ball but were powerless to prevent Hogan, on his return from injury, side footing in Ridehalgh’s teasing cross.

With Mangan making it two soon after, Tranmere for once, found themselves in a commanding position at half time.

Andy Mangan on the ball for Tranmere Rovers during their match against Kidderminster Harriers. Picture: Richard Ault

Marlon Jackson appeared for Rovers in the second half, replacing Mekki and he made an immediate impact, shooting narrowly wide from inside the penalty area after only two minutes of the restart.

Maynard then headed just wide of the same post from Ridehalgh’s corner as Rovers continued to dominate.

Palmer was then forced to tip another header from Maynard over the bar after Jackson had danced past a defender before crossing for the midfielder.

Styche remained Kiddy’s best hope of getting back into the match and Hogan diverted the stiker’s header over his own crossbar as the hour mark approached before Tavhon Campbell saw a long range effort deflected over.

Buoyed by their first half goals, Tranmere cut a much more confidant side than in recent weeks with Jay Harris and Steve Jennings running an efficient midfield engine room.

With quarter of an hour to go, Palmer had to be at full stretch to deny Mangan a second goal, with a free kick from the edge of the box.

But Harriers pulled themselves back into the match when substitute Singh danced into the penalty area then hit both posts before the ball crossed the line, sending Prenton Park into panic stations.

Then in stoppage time, Kidderminster drew level through Reece Styche from close range as Tranmere crumbled under the pressure.

At the death, Jackson bundled the ball onto the post, denying Rovers an outrageous victory. The full time whistle was met by boos as the home supporters' recent pain resurfaced.

Gary Brabin’s men must now reflect on what was a harsh lesson but ultimately two points dropped.

The manager said: "First half an hour I thought we played some fantastic stuff, that’s what we want.

"For half an hour I thought we looked really good – possession, creating loads of chances and go two-nil up. I just thought for ten minutes before half time we looked a little bit edgy.

"Adam Mekki had a little bit of a pull on his hamstring so we had to take him off at half time and then the second half we came out again and created some chances, again playing some (good) stuff. But we needed that third goal.

"I’m disappointed again, certainly with the first goal. I didn’t think they looked like they were going to score. Liam Hogan, who was outstanding today – we practice defending first and foremost – he’s tried to guide it out of a dangerous position, it puts us under pressure and they’re back in the game.

"All of a sudden they’re on the front foot and it puts us on the back foot.

"Even then I thought we still had some great chances but we’re just not putting them away. We’re not being ruthless enough at the moment and we seem to be getting punished at the other end."

Match Stats:

Tranmere Rovers: 2

Hogan 20, Mangan 26

Kidderminster Harriers: 2

Singh 83, Styche 90+1

Half time: 2-0

Star man: Liam Ridehalgh (Tranmere Rovers)

Attendance: 4,622

Entertainment: 4/5

Ref rating: Stephen Ross (7/10)

Tranmere (3-5-2): Davies player rating 7; Sutton 6, Hogan 7, Riley 7; Mekki 6 (Jackson 45, 8), Maynard 6, Jennings 7, Harris 6, Ridehalgh 8; Mangan 8, Blissett 6 (Ihiekwe 83, 6).

Subs not used: Turner, Hill, Margetts

Kidderminster Harriers (4-4-1-1): Palmer player rating 7; Hodgkiss 6, Tunnicliffe 6, Rowe-Turner 5, Fox 5; Wright 5 (Verma 34, 6), Maxwell 6, Clarke 6, Campbell 6 (Singh 65, 7); Dawson 6; Styche 7.

Subs not used: Dinsley, Snedker, Green.

The draw left Rovers in ninth position in the National League. Their next game is away to Welling Utd this Saturday.

Welling United:

Nickname: The Wings
Colours: Red and white shirts, red shorts, red socks
Ground: Park View Road
Distance from Prenton Park: 248 miles
Position last season: 20th

Perhaps one of London's lesser-known clubs and certainly one of its youngest. Welling have never reached the Football League.