TRANMERE cruised to victory over neighbours Vauxhall Motors in an overwhelmingly one-sided affair at Rivacre Park.

Having fielded a youthful side earlier in the day at Heswall, Gary Brabin opted more a more familiar looking XI here, with a couple of trialists included.

Brabin said afterwards: "We had to approach the game in the right manner.

"It was a good performance and workout for the lads and its always nice to score goals."

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Action from Vauxhall v Tranmere. Pictures: Geoff Davies

Jake Kirby should have given the visitors the lead five minutes in but he failed to connect with Adam Mekki’s low cross from only six yards out.

A corner from Kirby was met by the diving head of Ritchie Sutton, but his effort was just wide of the post.

Veteran goalkeeper Iain Turner spilled a ball on the edge of the box but Vauxhall squandered the opportunity.

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Kirby then glanced a header off the bar before the Motormen’s keeper John Richie twice denied Darren Stephenson as Rovers dominated proceedings.

Vauxhall’s number 10 sent an effort over the bar from long range 20 minutes in before Steve McNulty received treatment for a cut to the head.

With a man off the field Tranmere took the lead shortly after when the Vauxhall keeper got caught on the edge of his box.

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Kirby took a square ball on the turn and calmly passed it into the empty net.

He should have doubled his tally a minute later when clean through on goal but somehow managed to place his shot wide.

A Kirby corner on the half hour mark was headed over from close range by Lois Maynard before Stephenson had a goal chalked off for offside.

An unnamed trialist showed show promise with an exhibition of blistering pace and fancy footwork that impressed the visiting congregation.

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Kirby continued to be involved in everything and pulled a shot just wide before forcing another save out of the overworked Vauxhall keeper.

The home goal was living a charmed life as the towering McNulty headed another Kirby corner against the post before the break.

Brabin brought on Michael Ihiekwe, Lee Vaughan, Steve and Connor Jennings and Andy Cook for the second half.

Rovers were awarded a penalty shortly after the break when Mekki was tripped and the box and Cook made no mistake from 12 yards.

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Vaughan had the ball in the net a few minutes later but was flagged offside, however the tricky trialist soon pulled one back for Mekki who took his time before slamming home the third.

Kirby then blazed over when it was easier to score before Connor Jennings steered one against the post.

The former Wrexham captain then saw one shot saved by the goalkeeper’s feet before clubbing the rebound over.

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After a Vauxhall defender handled in the penalty area, Cook smashed home his second spot kick of the day as the score line started to look more reflective of Rovers’ dominance.

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Former Barrow hotshot Cook wrapped up his hat-trick with 10 minutes to spare and but for the heroics of Richie in the Vauxhall goal, this match would have ended in double figures.

Asssessing his squad's performance, boss Gary Brabin (pictured, below, during the game) continued: "Darren Stephenson can play out wide or down the middle. When we signed him I said that he gives us that different dimension.

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"He never played in the game midweek against MK Dons so we wanted to put him straight into it today down the middle. We’re pleased with his first 45 minutes.

"It’s premature to start naming names (regarding trialists) but I thought everyone performed well.

"We're looking at one or two people. I’m not mobbed with trailists like I was last season when I never had a squad.

"Now we’ve got a squad that we’re pleased with and we’re just looking to add additions where and when. I think both (trailists) performed well today.

"We know Lois (Maynard) is a really threat. Last season was his first full season in professional football and he became and international player as well.

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"For his country he plays centre half so we know he’s capable of doing that. Today was a good chance for us to look at him playing in that position.

"It's too early to say who will be on penalties next season but it’s nice now Cooky (Andy Cook) has joined us and got used to how we do things and it’s for him to score a hat-trick.

"It's been a good exercise for us today."

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Star man: Andy Cook

Match rating: 4/5

Tranmere starting XI (4-4-2): Turner, Sutton, McNulty, Maynard, Trialist, Mekki, Harris, Hughes, Trialist, Kirby, Stephenson