Braintree Town........0

Tranmere Rovers.....1

A spectacular second half volley by Andy Cook won Tranmere all three points at Braintree Town.

Micky Mellon made one change from the side which started against Chester FC last week with Adam Dawson making his second Tranmere debut in place of the suspended Ben Tollitt.

In the first half Cook missed from the penalty spot for Rovers, as Sam Beasant plunged to his right to stop the effort.

Braintree threatened too, and Jay Harris had to be alert in the second half to clear a dangerous corner from under his bar.

Wirral Globe:

Liam Ridehalgh and Adam Dawson combine to press forward in the first half

At the other end Mangan thundered over from 12 yards as Mellon's men bristled with potential.

George Elokobi forced a last-ditch clearance from a header as Tranmere held on.

Cook eventually won the match for Rovers volleying past Beasant with 15 minutes remaining.

Mellon said: “We knew it was going to be tough, we knew we would have to keep on going and the players, to their credit, did.

“Every question that we got asked we answered very well and we got a massive three points.

“Sometimes when you’re standing there, and I’ve played in these types of games as well, when you miss a penalty and a chance, you start to take two steps backwards and think maybe it’s not going to be my day.

Wirral Globe:

Andy Mangan creates one of many chances in the first half - then winning a penalty for the visitors

“But then he (Andy Cook) pops up and does what he is brilliant at and scores an absolutely stunning strike, which would be fit to win any game to be fair.”

Pormotion chasing Rovers - currently in third place - will travel to face league leaders Forest Green this Tuesday. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.