Godden nets hat-trick as Coventry thump Tranmere

Posted Thursday, January 02, 2020 by PA

Matt Godden struck a New Year’s Day hat-trick as Coventry kept their promotion push on course with a deserved 4-1 victory over Tranmere at Prenton Park – a result that drops Rovers into the relegation zone.

The striker gave the Sky Blues an early lead before Jordan Shipley doubled their advantage.

Connor Jennings pulled one back for the hosts before half-time, but with Tranmere applying heavy pressure early in the second half, Morgan Ferrier missed the chance to restore parity, blazing a penalty over the bar.

Having been let off the hook, City capitalised with Godden grabbing his second of the match 23 minutes from time, effectively ending the contest.

Micky Mellon’s Whites had performed miserably for the first half an hour and were guilty of static defending for both of the opening goals.

But Kieron Morris produced a threaded pass to allow Jennings to pull one back and Rovers looked like they would get something out of the match before Ferrier failed from 12 yards after George Ray was brought down in the box.

Godden completed his hat-trick with a spot-kick himself in injury time, after Sid Nelson fouled Callum O’Hare.