Tranmere will face Wycombe Wanderers three times in the space of two weeks after their FA Cup 1st round tie ended in a draw at Prenton Park.

Kieron Morris gave Rovers an early lead but a curling Joe Jacobson free kick ensured the sides were level at half time.

Alex Samuel then put the visitors in front 10 minutes into the second half but in-form Morris stroked home his second of the match 23 minutes from time to ensure that this tie goes to another 90 minutes.

Wanderers are due to visit Birkenhead again next Sunday in a League One fixture but will face-off for a third time on the following Wednesday in the cup replay at Adams Park.

Micky Mellon kept faith with the same starting eleven that comprehensively dispatched MK Dons 3-0 last weekend. 

Hat-trick hero Rushian Hepburn-Murphy continued as the focal point of the attack, supported by Connor Jennings.

Morris had already hit the post before he put the hosts ahead as early as the third minute. 

Wanderers only half cleared a freekick into the path of David Perkins before his touch pushed the ball onto Morris, who used his strength to hold off his marker and drill home into the bottom corner.

Tranmere moved the ball around the pitch swiftly and confidently in an eye-catching opening spell, but when Wycombe drew level in the 26th minute it was entirely avoidable. 

Scott Davies elected to punch a cross clear instead of catching the ball, only for his Rovers defence to immediately concede a freekick inside the D.

Wanderers left back Jacobson made no mistake, expertly curling the ball past a rooted Davies into the top corner.

Rovers responded quickly, with Hepburn-Murphy attempting to loop a header over Ryan Allsop, but the Chairboys stopper was able to gather it on the goal line.

Tranmere continued to provide the superior attacking threat but on the stroke of half time David Wheeler side-footed wide from six yards out, missing the chance to put Wanderers in front at the break.

They didn’t have wait more than 10 minutes into the second half to take the lead however.

When the visitors pumped a free kick into the box, Rovers made a total hash of their attempts to clear the danger, allowing Samuel to pounce and stab the ball home in the box.

Samuel could’ve doubled his tally moments later but pulled his right foot shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.

As Mellon prepared to make a double substitution Rovers restored parity again.

Kane Wilson used his pace to keep the ball in on the Johnny King stand touchline and pulled it back for Jennings, who set up Morris to stroke home his second of the match.

Regardless of the equaliser, Mellon made his double change, brining on Morgan Ferrier and Corey Blackett-Taylor for Hepburn-Murphy and Jake Caprice respectively.

Refreshed Rovers pushed for a winner, with goal scorer Morris continuing to provide the greatest attacking threat.

Having reverted to right back, Kane Wilson surged forward and went close, bending a low shot with the outside of his boot just wide.

With less than 10 minutes remaining substitute Adebayo Akinfenwa went close for the visitors heading inches off target, with Davies beaten. 

Darius Charles somehow nodded the ball over the bar from close range as Tranmere struggled to cope with the aerial threat.

But right at the death Rovers had a chance to win the tie on the counter-attack, with substitute Ferrier delaying a pass to Blackett-Taylor for too long before wasting the golden opportunity.

Tranmere can take solace from the fact that they matched high-flying Wycombe across the 90 minutes and will hope to go one better in the league clash back at Prenton Park on Sunday. 

Micky Mellon said: “We were disappointed with the goals that we’ve lost from set plays, but overall you’d have to say a really hard fought keenly contest cup tie. 

“Kieron Morris has scored two good goals today. We keep on at him, saying that he can weigh in with more goals with the quality that he has. Two really good finishes that keeps us in the hat.

“We were one nil up and probably cruising and then we gave away a free kick on the edge of the box. Maybe we were disappointed with other parts of it. We know how dangerous the lad is from there. It’s a missed opportunity they’ve got themselves back in the game.

“But it terms of resilience and all of the qualities that are need in a FA cup tie we weren’t found wanting and that’s part of the development of the team. Maybe right at the end there we could’ve nicked it.”

Match stats

Tranmere Rovers 2

Morris 3, 67

Wycombe Wanderers 2

Jacobson 26, Samuel 54

Half time: 1-1

Referee: Martin Coy

Attendance: 3,849

Star man: Kieron Morris (Tranmere midfielder)

Match rating: 3/5

Tranmere team (3-5-2): Davies, Caprice (Blackett-Taylor 68), Nelson, Monthe, Ridehalgh, Morris, Perkins, Danns, Wilson, Jennings, Hepburn-Murphy (Ferrier 68)

Tranmere subs: Pilling, Potter, Maddox, Borthwick-Jackson, Payne

Wycombe team (4-4-2): Allsop, Jombati, Gape (Ofoborh 90), Stewart, Jacobson, Wheeler, Bloomfield (Freeman 80), Thompson, Charles, Samuel (Akinfenwa 70), Aarons

Wycombe subs: Yates, Phillips, Kashket, Pattison