ACCRINGTON STANLEY – 1

TRANMERE ROVERS – 2

DESPITE a late resurgence, Accrington Stanley were beaten 2-1 at the Wham Stadium against relegation threatened Tranmere Rovers.

James Vaughan gave the visitors the lead against the run of play in the first half and then Mark Ellis made it two in the early stages of the second period.

Stanley pulled a goal back late on through an Alex Woodyard own goal, but they couldn’t find that crucial equaliser.

It didn’t even take a minute for Jordan Clark to show why Bolton’s Keith Hill named him the best winger in the league last Saturday as he drove forward, beating several Tranmere defenders along the way.

His cross found Dion Charles, but he couldn’t turn it goal wards.

Despite Stanley’s bright start, Tranmere took the lead as Vaughan headed into the ground from a free kick and it found its way into the back of the net.

Joe Bursik seemed to be put off from an awkward bounce the ball took and it was beyond him before he could do anything about it.

The away side didn’t offer much after they opened the scoring as Stanley regained control of the match and pushed forward at every opportunity.

Ross Sykes’ dead leg at Bolton kept him out of this one, letting Harvey Rodgers start at the heart of the defence with Jerome Opoku.

Sam Finley misplaced a few passes in the build up to some attacks which was unlike Stanley’s number eight as he is usually the man to split a defence.

Colby Bishop and Charles were playing into the hands of the Tranmere centre halves as they were allowing themselves to get into a wrestling match – one that they were losing.

Joe Pritchard was the first to threaten the Tranmere goal in the second half as he cut inside on his right foot and whipped an effort toward the far corner – going just over the crossbar.

The Reds number 10 came close once again before the hour mark, but he will think he should have done better with this one as he struck it softly into the arms of Scott Davies.

Clark, after a bright start to the game, did not see much of the action and this is a big reason as to why the Reds struggled to create any meaningful chances.

It looked as though Pritchard was going to level for Stanley, but his poor first touch in the box allowed Kane Wilson time to get a sliding challenge in and stop the attack.

Finley picked up his 10th booking of the season meaning he will miss the next two matches through suspension.

With just over 10 minutes left, Ellis doubled Tranmere’s lead with a tap in at the far post, sending the travelling fans behind the goal crazy.

Stanley quickly found a way back into the game as Woodyard flicked a header into his own net from a good Bobby Grant delivery.

In stoppage time, Rodgers was shown a second yellow card and he will add to the list of defenders out of action for the Reds.

Stanley XI: Bursik, Johnson, Rodgers, Opoku, Maguire, Clark, Finley, Conneely, Pritchard, Charles, Bishop

Subs: Savin, Kaba Sherif, Zanzala, Grant, Barclay, Diallo, Alese

Tranmere XI: Davies, Ridehalgh, Morris, Jennings, McCullough, Ellis, Vaughan, Wilson, Blackett-Taylor, Clarke, Woodyard

Subs: Pilling, Monthe, Perkins, Banks, Ferrier, Cook, Danns