ANDY IS COOKING UP A TASTY TITLE RACE

VERDICT: Tranmere’s profligacy in front of goal must concern Mellon, with six missed penalties this season, but they keep on picking up the points and are sure to be in the mix

MICKY MELLON cut a relieved but happy figure after Tranmere closed the gap to the top of the National League to just two points with victory over Braintree at Prenton Park.

Andy Cook’s 21st goal of the season after the break proved to be the decisive moment in a match that saw the hosts miss a plethora of gilt-edged chances.

Jeff Hughes’ second penalty miss in a week proved immaterial as Rovers held out for the win, but Mellon acknowledged that tension is part and parcel of the business end of the season.

He said: “If you think about the amount of clear-cut chances that we had, with the quality of players that we’ve got, you would think they were nailed on to score them.

“When that happens and you miss a penalty and the stakes – how high they are, with the opportunity to go two points behind the league leaders – it’s going to become a wee bit nervy and about digging it.

“That’s what they’ve done. The crowd today were magnificent; they’ve got right behind us and stuck with us and roared us on to a fantastic three points.

“We knew we had to get three points today. If you’d offered me the chance earlier in the season to be two points behind the league leaders with nine to play I’d have snatched both your hands off.”

Setting the tone for the contest, Tranmere should have been one to the good inside two minutes, when Cook put James Norwood clean through on goal, but the striker put his shot the wrong side of the post, wasting the opportunity.

Miscommunication between Ritchie Sutton and Steve McNulty presented an opportunity to Reece Hall-Johnson at the other end of the pitch, but Scott Davies gathered his 20-yard effort at the second attempt.

Quite how the hosts failed to take the lead seven minutes before the break, only Cook will be able to tell you.

A free-kick effort from Jeff Hughes was spilt by Ben MacNamara, but with the goal at his mercy, Cook somehow managed to crash a shot off the base of the post before a startled Norwood saw his rebound bounce into the arms of the Braintree keeper.

The Prenton Park faithful didn’t have to wait too long after the break however, as the deadlock was finally broken in the 54th minute.

A wide ball over the top was collected by Cook, who cut inside – beating his marker – before smashing the ball home for his 21st goal of the season.

Sam Corne forced a low save out of Davies at the other end, as the visitors tried to stay in the contest.

With 20 minutes to play, Tranmere were awarded a penalty when Norwood was poleaxed in the penalty area by McNamara.

But having missed from 12 yards at North Ferriby, Hughes saw his spot-kick saved before the goalkeeper heroically kept out the rebound.

Rovers continued to toil for a second, but they had Michael Ihiekwe to thank for preventing Braintree from pulling level after he headed one off the line with eight minutes remaining.

Late on, Michael Cheek found the side netting before heading over in injury-time, as Rovers hung on, keeping their promotion push on track.

The Iron’s manager Hakan Hayrettin rued a mistake which lead to Tranmere taking all three points.

“I think first 20 minutes we weathered the storm, if I’m being honest. They’re a good team,” he said.

“After that we got into the game. In my personal, humble opinion I think we were better than them second half, but we didn’t take our chances.

“The goal by them was a mistake by us. Small margins, fine lines – call it what you want – two players missed the ball, then we let the third one come inside and he scored. We didn’t deal with that and we got punished.

“We went up the other end and had two or three great chances, but we didn’t take them. I’m proud of the players.”