Tranmere Rovers 1, Hartlepool United 2

TRANMERE slipped to a second home defeat in a week against Hartlepool United but a return to the Football League is very much in their hands as they head into the National League play-offs.

Liam Donnelly and Rhys Oates gave United a two-goal lead before Jeff Hughes pulled one back for Rovers with 15 minutes remaining.

The hosts could not muster an equaliser but defeat has no bearing on their already secured second place finish and they will now await the winner of Aldershot Town v Ebbsfleet United before battling it out at Prenton Park next Saturday in the play-off semi-final.

Having completely changed the side for the midweek dead rubber against Solihull Moors, Micky Mellon made a further 10 changes here as he reverted back to the type of starting XI that will line up in the crunch play-off semi-final next week.

The continued absence of Adam Buxton with a stomach injury meant that Jay Harris deputised at right back again, as he did against FC Halifax Town.

Connor Jennings was sick, granting another start for on-loan winger Josh Ginnelly.

It was unclear whether the 700+ travelling Hartlepool fans were paying some sort of tribute to the standard of referring in the National League, but nevertheless the sight of almost all of them dressed as circus clowns in the Cowsheds brought some colour and amusement to an otherwise fairly meaningless contest.

Andy Cook carved out the first chance of the match in the seventh minute – cutting inside before forcing a low save to his left out of Scott Loach.

Ritchie Sutton blocked a shot from Conor Newton, before Jake Cassidy sent a bicycle kick over the bar for the visitors.

Scott Davies could only stop Lewis Hawkins penalty box volley with his knees, as Hartlepool grew in confidence.

Rovers’ opportunities had been limited in the opening 25 minutes, forcing Cook to try his luck from distance, to no avail.

Ten minutes before the break Larnell Cole teed up Ollie Norburn but his long-range effort was well off target.

Tranmere came close just before break when Norwood collected a measured through ball from Cook and went around the 'keeper, only to be denied by the toe of Carl Magnay on the line.

Ginnelly then attempted to lob Loach from the edge of the box but he could only direct it wide of the goal.

But seconds before the interval Hartlepool were awarded a penalty when Cook was adjudged to have brought down Liam Donnelly in the box.

It looked a very harsh decision.

Nevertheless, the United centre back picked himself up and converted from the spot with what was the last kick of the half.

Backed by their travelling circus, United started the second half brightly, with Ryan Donaldson firing just over the bar with fierce volley.

Rovers huffed and puffed but were effectively at half pace.

This didn't go unnoticed by United who were often sharper to the ball.

When substitute Rhys Oates got in behind Harris, it looked like Hartlepool would double their lead but his toe-poke past Davies went the wrong side of the post.

Superb skill from Harris set up Cook in the penalty area, but on this occasion he could only pull his shot wide.

The prolific striker then forced a superb point blank save out of Loach, but it wouldn't have counted anyway as the linesman raised his flag.

With quarter of an hour to go United doubled their lead.

Davies could only flap at a cross from the left and when the ball came back into the penalty area Rovers' defence were unable to clear their lines, allowing Oates to bundle the ball over the line.

Two minutes later Tranmere pulled one back through Hughes when the Northern Irishman curled a sumptuous left footed free kick into the net.

A previously dull game had come to life.

Cassidy blazed one over the bar for United before Norburn followed suit for Rovers at the other end.

In injury-time Norwood lifted one into the Kop but the only result that matters is the one next Saturday when Tranmere Rovers will need to be at their best to keep their Football League return on course.

Rovers' boss Micky Mellon said: "I'm glad we've got it out of the way.

"We'll move on with some lessons learnt but it's difficult for me to be critical.

"Hartlepool looked like a team that didn't have anything to lose.

"We looked like a team that was going to be ready for Saturday at times.

"Now we've got that out of the way, thank God we've not got any injuries because we don't need any.

"We will move onto Monday now and have a good clear week and get prepared for Saturday.

"The good players now will be performing in the playoffs or have been promoted.

"The rest will be watching from abroad because they weren’t good enough to be in the playoffs.

"We won't play with the hand brake on next week that's for sure. You'll see a whole different mentality."

Match stats:

Tranmere Rovers 1 (Hughes 77)

Hartlepool United 2 (Donnelly 45+1, Oates 75)

Half-time: 0-1

Star man: Jeff Hughes (Tranmere midfielder)

Attendance: 5,499 (738 away)

Entertainment: 3/5

Ref rating: Sam Purkiss (6/10) Tranmere (4-4-2): Davies 6; Harris 6, McNulty 7, Sutton 7, Ridehalgh 6; Cole 5 (Duggan 68, 5), Norburn 6, Hughes 7, Ginnelly 6; Cook 7, Norwood 6 Subs not used: Taylor, Mangan, Clarke, Monthe

Hartlepool (4-4-2): Loach 7; Magnay 7, Laing 6, Donnelly 7, Adams 6; Newton 6, Featherstone 6 (Harrison 90, NA), Donaldson 6 (Hawkes 90, NA), Hawkins 7; Rodney 6 (Oates 60, 7), Cassidy 7

Subs not used: Catterick, Orrell, Bookings: Hartlepool – Cassidy, Donnelly, Hawkins