STEVENAGE'S poor run of form continued as they slipped to third in Sky Bet League Two as Josh Hawkes’ penalty gave Tranmere a 1-0 win at the Lamex Stadium.

The home side started the game the stronger with the majority of the play and chances inside the opening 30 minutes, but largely failed to challenge Joe Murphy in the Tranmere goal.

The game opened up more in the second half with both sides having chances.

Regan Hendry stung the gloves of Stevenage goalkeeper Toby Savin from distance and Harvey Saunders went close with a header, before Murphy made a good save from Alex Gilbey on the counter-attack.

The game was ultimately decided by two penalty decisions – one that was given and one that was waved away.

The visitors took the lead with just over 15 minutes to go as Hawkes scored from the spot after Daryl Horgan had tripped Saunders in the area, but the home side had one turned down when Kane Smith went down under a challenge from Jordan Turnbull.

Tranmere manager Micky Mellon praised his side’s defensive efforts which earned a first win on the road in 2023.

He said: "We know what the players are capable of, and all the credit goes to the players.

"First half, we knew with the breeze that they were going to put it right on us and we needed to show the qualities that were needed to accept that, and we did that to be fair, we defended really well in that first half.

"We knew in the second half we would gain some more territory and when we would get further up the pitch, we could show our qualities that we undoubtedly have in the team.

"We had to keep defending well with direct play because Stevenage are very good at what they do, all credit to them for that, that’s why they are up the end of the table that they are, and we knew we had to stand up to that, and we did."

Stevenage boss Steve Evans was left in disbelief that Stevenage were unable to find the net as his side made it five Sky Bet League Two matches without a win.

He said: "We were by far the better side. It was unbelievable, I don’t know what the stats are, but it’s incredible.

"We said at half-time to be a bit more composed and have a bit more quality because our goalkeeper has been a passenger, but we’ve lost the game and we have to take the pain of losing it.”

Despite their dominance, the hosts failed to produce any real chances of note, with Boro’s best chance of equalising coming when defender Kane Smith appeared to be tripped in the box by Jordan Turnbull.

And Evans made no bones about what he thought was another poor piece of officiating that denied his side at least a point.

"I think theirs looks a penalty, but I thought his performance (the referee) all afternoon was shocking. How he doesn’t give the one on Kane Smith is beyond belief.

"We cannot beat a referee. It’s hard to say he hasn’t influenced the game today because he has in a major way. They are big decisions to get wrong.

"It was hard on us because they didn’t have a lot of efforts on our goal. I can’t remember our goalkeeper making a save in all honesty.”