Tranmere Rovers exited the FA Cup in the first round following a 1-3 defeat at home to League One Stockport County, writes Mason Savva at Prenton Park.
The home side dominated early parts of the game and were unlucky not to find themselves a goal to the good seven minutes in when Charlie Whitaker found himself one on one with Corey Addai. However, a great opportunity was spurned.
The 22-year-old came close again five minutes before the break when he met a fantastic cross from Cameron Norman down Stockport’s left flank.
Andy Crosby would have been the happier out of the managers going into the break in what turned out to be a very even half.
The away fans were in fine voice in the second half and that passion translated onto the pitch as Stockport started looking like a team with six wins in their last seven.
And it was that strong start that almost saw the first goal when a fantastic Oliver Norwood cross found Kyle Wooton at the back post who looked for all the world to make it 1-0, but the Hatters’ top scorer couldn’t find the finish.
Not long after the deadlock was finally broken by Jack Diamond with a fine low driven finish with his right foot into the bottom left corner after he carried the ball a long way through a gaping Rovers midfield.
However, the home side responded just moments after when the they hit the post through Whitaker. Tranmere then drew level when Omari Patrick met another delightful Norman cross on the volley that deflected past a helpless Addai between the sticks.
Just four minutes later Stockport retook the lead and again took control of the tie when Norwood snuck a clever free kick into Jack Barrett’s near post who seemed to be expecting a cross.
However, it was zero to hero for the Rovers keeper six minutes before the end as he saved substitute Nathan Lowe’s low driven effort, looking for all the world like he was going to put the Hatters into the hat for round two.
Tranmere’s fate was eventually sealed in the 90th minute when Lowe finally got his goal, lofting the ball over Barrett who was stranded on the edge of his box.
This was Rovers’ second loss in their last eight with an away trip to Swindon Town next Saturday before they welcome Blackpool to Prenton Park in the EFL trophy.
