Tranmere Rovers...........4

Southport......................1

Tranmere will seek promotion back to the Football League via the play-offs after victory over Southport could not prevent Lincoln from becoming National League champions.

The Imps had already wrapped up the title and the only automatic promotion spot before Rovers had even kicked off at Prenton Park but that didn’t stop James Norwood and Connor Jennings netting twice to put their relegated neighbours to the sword.

Micky Mellon made one change to the side that defeated Guiseley on Easter Monday, bringing Cole Stockton back in for Andy Cook, who dropped back down to the bench.

Tranmere made a bright start with Lee Vaughan forcing a save out of Chris Cheetham, after charging up field in the second minute.

A sweeping break from the hosts cut open Southport’s defence, but Hughes could only flick Norwood’s cross over the bar.

A misjudgement from Steve McNulty presented Andrai Jones with a golden opportunity to give the visitors the lead, but with Scott Davies standing tall in front of him, he elected for a pull back that failed to pick out Rory McKeown and the chance was gone.

Rovers took the lead in the 25th minute when a lovely through ball from Michael Ihiekwe put Norwood in on goal and he made no mistake, stroking it past Cheetham into the net.

Norwood nearly grabbed a second minutes later but his header from Vaughan’s cross was well saved by Cheetham.

Barely a minute into the second half, Norwood had his second when he collected a ball over his shoulder and expertly lobbed Cheetham from 25 yards.

And that lead was extended further less than five minutes later when Connor Jennings showed his qualities in front of goal, picking up the ball from 20 yards out before bending it into the top corner.

Southport’s frustrations finally boiled over when Spencer Myer received a yellow card for a late tackle on Lee Vaughan, with the Tranmere wingback eventually stretchered off and sent to hospital for an X-ray.

Myers – of all people – then pulled one back for the visitors when he converted Jones’ knockdown in the penalty area.

But 10 minutes later, Tranmere’s three goal cushion was restored when James Wallace danced through the penalty area before setting up Connor Jennings to net his second of the afternoon and secure an easy win.

With second place confirmed, Tranmere have one game of the regular season to fulfil before they tackle the play-offs, where they will face either Aldershot or Dover.

Micky Mellon said: “Tranmere’s got to keep performing and winning games of football. That’s what the demands are here and nothing else changes.

“I thought James Norwood was excellent and has been for the last few games. He’s looked a real threat and had two very good finishes.

"I was hoping he would maybe get his hat-trick and then try and get him off, but it ran to a point in the game when I wanted to give some people some match time and make sure that he’s ready to go again.

“I’d like to think that (the tackle of Vaughan) is an accident but it was certainly mistimed and maybe no need for it. I’d like to think that human beings wouldn’t try to do that to each other on purpose.

“He’ll go for an X-ray and then we’ll know more but it isn’t looking good. We’ll see where we’re at, but at this moment in time we fear the worst.

“With injuries this season, we’ve been hit very hard with them. It’s been credit to the group that we’ve had so many to key players and still try and make a contest of winning the division, but certainly it’s gone against us.

“Whoever you face in the play-offs is going to be tough because they are the next four best teams in the division and there’s a lot of emotion.

“But I believe I’ve got a very good side here and unbelievable backing from a fantastic crowd, so we’re really looking forward to it.

“Let’s get it on and we’ll certainly work hard to ensure that we represent this football club properly.”