Micky Mellon hails contribution of whole team as Tranmere beat Morecambe

Posted Thursday, December 27, 2018 by PA

Tranmere boss Micky Mellon hailed his side’s collective display as they moved to within two points of the League Two play-off places with a Boxing Day win over Morecambe.

Rovers were rampant in the first half, scoring three goals before the break on a crisp afternoon.

Cole Stockton put Mellon’s men in command with just three minutes on the clock when he profited from Connor Jennings’ deflected effort to drive low into the bottom corner.

Tranmere’s second came midway through the half when Jake Caprice’s cross from the right found Stockton, who turned provider for James Norwood to poke his shot into the net from close range.

The hosts made it three on the stroke of half-time with Jay Harris connecting with Liam Ridehalgh’s cross from the left to increase the lead.

Jordan Cranston pulled one back for Jim Bentley’s Shrimps after 65 minutes when the left-back roamed forward into space before unleashing a drive which beat Tranmere goalkeeper Scott Davies, with the ball flying into the top corner.

But Tranmere saw out the game professionally to move within touching distance of the play-off spots.

Mellon said: “It was important that our thinking was just get a win for obvious reasons, it builds confidence, it was important that in front of a big crowd that we won and got things going.

“We took our goals really well, all the lads have contributed today, it was a must-win game, a tough game but we are pleased to get over the line and I was really pleased for them today.

“We need to learn from game-to-game and build on this and learn from the games we play to move forward.

“Just at the minute with the players that we have, the system we are using suits us.”

Meanwhile, Morecambe manager Bentley was despondent following a defeat which sees the Lancashire club looking over their shoulder at the relegation places, as the Shrimps sit 20th in the division.

Bentley said: “We were disappointing today, at times today we looked jittery, and instead of putting a boot through it, we tried to be too clever.

“We didn’t defend well enough and the goals cut us open, we spoke about them being good on the counter attack, but we didn’t clear our lines and it cost us today.

“They scored with three minutes gone, then we did OK, but we didn’t stop another cross and Norwood proved why he’s a top striker.

“We speak about key times in games when you concede a late goal, it is frustrating, but we have to learn from it.”