Tranmere Rovers exited the Vertu Trophy in the Round of 32, with three second half goals from Fleetwood Town proving the difference, writes Oliver Powell at Prenton Park.
Rovers’ were well in the contest at half-time, but a Patrick Brough own goal within the first 10 minutes of the second half dampened spirits before Fleetwood ran away with the tie.
The result continues Tranmere’s woes against The Fishermen, having failed to beat tonight’s opposition in all six meetings.
The first half offered little in the way of opportunities, with neither side able to provide the quality in the final third to break the deadlock.
Joe Ironside had the best chance of the opening 45, getting on the end of a fizzed Taylan Harris cross in the eighth minute, but the effort was sent flying over the bar from six yards out.
Fleetwood striker Will Davies was nearly gifted a freebie, after Nohan Kenneh fired a hospital pass towards his own box. However, Rovers’ goalkeeper Jack Barrett was alert enough to deny the opportunity, and took a whack from the sliding centre forward for his troubles.
The first corner of the game summed up the first half, not coming until the 39th minute for The Cod Army and sailing straight out for a goal kick.
Fleetwood threatened in the opening exchanges of the second half, with Davies unable to make contact on a certain tap-in after substitute Lewis McCann laid it on a plate across the penalty area.
The visitors found the breakthrough thanks to a slice of fortune in the 56th minute, with sub McCann firing a relatively tame effort goalwards that Rovers’ defender Brough deflected past a helpless Barrett who was wrong-footed.
Tranmere failed to respond, before Fleetwood substitute Ronan Coughlan added a crucial second in the 71st minute.
Two subs combined, as that man McCann was involved once again, playing it for Coughlan to tap home from a yard out just seconds after entering the field.
It went from bad to worse for the home side, as Fleetwood’s Mark Helm swept home from close range in the final minutes of regular time to book their spot in the Round of 16 with Tranmere’s defence all at sea.
Defeat brought to an end a four-game unbeaten run for Tranmere, who travel to Barrow on on Saturday in League Two.
