Tranmere Rovers 2 Boreham Wood 1 

TRANMERE moved back up to third in the National League after seeing off Boreham Wood at Prenton Park on Tuesday evening.

An early first-half brace from Andy Cook put the southerners to the sword, albeit a nervy finish was endured when Angelo Balanta pulled one back late on.

Micky Mellon named an unchanged side from the one that comprehensively defeated Eastleigh at the weekend.

The only tweak was on the substitutes bench; where there was a place for striker Cole Stockton, at the expense of centre back Ritchie Sutton.

Rovers' fans did not have to wait long to be rewarded for coming out on a Tuesday night, as Cook had the hosts in front inside a minute.

The ex-Barrow hit man took a ball into the box from Liam Ridehalgh on his chest, allowing it to bounce once before smashing it on the turn into the top corner.

The Wood responded however and in the seventh minute Scott Davies repelled a shot with his knees from Ricky Shakes, as Tranmere's concentration slipped.

Lee Vaughan was then forced to make a double goal line clearance from a corner, with the visitors taking advantage of the space afforded to them.

That danger was eased as Tranmere doubled their advantage in the 13th minute, when Ben Tollitt’s corner evaded James Norwood and the Wood's defence, leaving Cook clear to volley home his second of the evening.

Winger Tollitt ran at the visitor's defence and cut inside before firing wide, as Rovers looked to kill the game before half time.

The Whites suffered a blow just past the half hour mark when on-loan Liverpool forward Jack Dunn hobbled off injured and despondent. Jake Kirby was his replacement.

Boreham Wood's best chance of the first half followed when Davies made a fingertip save from Daniel Uchechi, nudging the ball just beyond the reach of Shakes, who was following up for the rebound.

Another scare followed when Steve McNulty's firm header back to Davies had to tipped around the post by the Rovers' goalkeeper for a corner.

Just before half time, Tollitt skinned two defenders before crossing for Norwood who saw his goal bound effort pushed wide for a corner by Grant Smith.

Straight after the restart, Matthew Paine deflected a shot from Tollitt just wide for a corner.

Crowd favourite Tollitt hurt himself in the sequence and was only able to continue for a few minutes before Andy Mangan replaced him.

Davies tipped a header from Ben Goodliffe onto the post in the 56th minute as the visitors tried to capitalise on their opponents change in personnel.

Tranmere's Super White Army responded – backing the team – as Vaughan sliced wide from the edge of the box and Norwood had a shot blocked by Goodliffe.

As Boreham Wood went in search of a goal, they were leaving gaps at the back for Rovers to exploit on the break, but with Dunn and Tollitt both withdrawn the hosts were struggling to take advantage.

Norwood latched onto one ball over the top – outrunning his marker – but could only shoot wide.

When Wood 'keeper Smith rushed out of his penalty area misjudging the bounce of the ball, only Goodliffe could deny Norwood, clearing his effort off the line.

With time running out Stockton found himself clean through on goal but saw his fierce shot saved by Smith, before Davies had to repeat the feat at the other end to foil Balanta.

Norwood's luck was all out, as he struck a low cross from Stockton against the base of the post when it looked easier to score.

With injury time looming Boreham Wood pulled one back when substitute Balanta slipped a whipped ball home, setting up an edgy finish.

There was still time for Norwood to miss yet another one-on-one, but it proved academic as Tranmere held on for three vital points.

Rovers' boss Micky Mellon said afterwards: "It's important that we got the result, first and foremost at this time of the season.

"I've done this for quite a while now and the games at this time of the season don't really surprise me.

"It's about digging in and grit and determination now. You've just got to try and keeping collecting those three points.

"We could've made it more comfortable for ourselves.

"We've had a number of chances again that you could've taken and put ourselves out of sight a little bit.

"There's things that we'd like to improve and get better at all the time but they worked their socks off, got another three points and that's what I wanted to come out of the evening – three points and a victory.

"It was a great start – it doesn't get much better than that does?

"Two great finishes. It set us on our way."

Match stats:

Tranmere Rovers 2 (Cook 1, 13)

Boreham Wood 1 (Balanta 90)

Half time: 2-0

Star man: Andy Cook (Tranmere striker)

Attendance: 4,107

Entertainment: 3/5

Ref rating: Thomas Bramall 6/10

Tranmere (4-2-4): Davies, Vaughan, Ihiekwe, McNulty, Ridehalgh, Dunn (Kirby 32), Maynard, Hughes, Tollitt (Mangan 51), Cook (Stockton 70), Norwood.

Subs not used: Turner, Jennings Boreham Wood (4-4-2): Smith, Nunn, Ricketts (Andrade 82), Paine, Shakes, Hitchcock (Balanta 68), Reason, Ilesanmi, Goodliffe, Uchechi (Davis 68), Keita Subs not used: Ferrier, Jeffrey