Tranmere Rovers 1 Braintree Town 2

TRANMERE'S miserable home form returned as first half goals from Danny Sparkes and Simeon Akinola gave part-timers Braintree a deserved victory at Prenton Park.

The result leaves Gary Brabin's team in twelfth position in the National League while the visitors climbed to sixth.

Rovers took the lead in bizarre fashion in the third minute when Adam Mekki’s right wing cross gazumped Braintree keeper Will Norris before hitting the crossbar and rebounding into the net.

But the Iron responded less than two minutes later through Sparkes who blasted a fine half volley past an outstretched Scott Davies from 20 yards.

Jack Powell lifted a free-kick over the bar for Braintree in 18th minute as Rovers' early impetuous was tempered.

Powell then got the better of Tranmere centre back Steve McNulty in a dangerous position but Ritchie Sutton was on hand to expertly sweep up the danger.

Tranmere did not heed the warning however and in the 24th minute the visitors took the lead when Sparkes found Akinola in the penalty area, who evaded one challenge before smashing the ball in the net.

The goal sparked some boos from the Prenton Park faithful, who have grown tired of Tranmere’s inability to kill off supposedly lesser teams at home.

The reflexes of Davies and the linesman's offside flag preventedPowell scoring a third for Braintree within half an hour.

Ritchie Sutton had a golden opportunity to draw the hosts level when Mekki's corner landed in front of him but the finish lacked composure and was sliced wide with the goal at his mercy.

Powell continued to cause Rovers all kinds of problems and a vicious ball through the corridor of uncertainty came out the other end untouched, to Gary Brabin's relief.

Minutes before the break James Norwood came to life, juggling the ball passed his marker before firing on goal only to be denied by the feet of Norris.

Tranmere's players were booed off at the interval and could expect some stern words from Brabin following a below-par first half effort.

The Tranmere manager introduced Adam Dawson for the start of the second half – making a welcome return from injury – at the expense of Liam Ridehalgh.

But the first chance after the break fell to Braintree when Michael Cheek got in behind Rovers’ defence only to be denied by the right palm of Davies.

Akinola sent a 25-yard free kick over the bar as the part-timers continued to match their grander hosts in every department.

Just before the hour mark Andy Mangan missed a golden opportunity the draw the sides level, heading a Dawson cross over the bar from four yards out.

A mistake by Matt Hill let in Cheek for The Iron but his shot was horribly shanked and went out for a throw in.

Tranmere rallied and forced their opponents back with Mekki and Dawson the chief instigators.

With little over quarter of an hour to play Mangan wanted a penalty as he went to ground in the box but the referee wasn’t interested.

Lois Maynard could only direct a cross from Hill wide of the goal as Tranmere hunted for the equaliser.

Rovers huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser and in injury time Sutton met a Mekki free kick but could only guide it over the bar.

At the death Mangan put a cross from Lee Vaughan wide of the post as Tranmere faced up to a run of form that reads two wins in their last ten matches.

The players left the pitch to a chorus of “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” and a crescendo of boos from angry Rovers fans.

Much work will need to be done to change the opinion of supporters who have had enough of bad results.

Manager Gary Brabin said: “Inexcusable.

"We've cried that it would be better if we took a goal lead, which we’ve done and it was disturbing watching the rest of the first half performance from the moment we scored that goal.

“When I look at the players we’ve got and I look at them individually, we’ve got some good characters, good experience but collectively there today watching that, that’s certainly wasn’t evident.

“I think if I’m honest I’ve probably made my mind up with a couple (of players) but we can’t do anything until January. We really need to do better than what we’re doing at the moment.

"There's no excuses from us.

"We certainly need to strengthen if we’re serious about getting back up in that pack. I think that was even more evident today. We think we’re better then we are."

Match stats

Tranmere Rovers: 1 Mekki 3

Braintree Town: 2 Sparkes 5, Akinola 24 Half time: 1-2

Star man: Adam Dawson (midfielder, Tranmere Rovers)

Attendance: 4,224

Entertainment: 3/5

Ref rating: Adrian Holmes (8/10)

Tranmere (4-4-2): Davies 7; Vaughan 6, McNulty 5, Sutton 5, Hill 5; Mekki 6, Jennings 4, Maynard 5, Ridehalgh 5 (Dawson 46, 7), Mangan 7, Norwood 6.

Subs not used: Turner, Ihiekwe, Kirby, Tomlinson Braintree (4-3-3): Norris 7, Clerima 6, Paine 7, Fry 7, Habergham 6, Woodyard 6, Davis 6, Sparkes 8 (Brundle 77, 5), Cheek 6, Powell 8 (Miles 64, 6), Akinola 8 (Marks 88, NA).

Subs not used: Edgar, Sekajja