MICK’S SO FIRED UP AS PLAY-OFF TEST LOOMS
MICKY MELLON is looking forward to the challenge of the play-offs after his Tranmere Rovers team secured runners-up spot in the National League with the thrashing of Southport.
Aware that they could no longer mathematically catch Lincoln, Rovers dismantled the relegated Sandgrounders regardless, with two goals apiece from James Norwood and Connor Jennings.
Spencer Myers hit a consolation for the visitors but defeat here was the least of their worries, with a string of board resignations following their relegation from the National League.
Mellon said: “Tranmere’s got to keep performing and winning games of football. That’s what the demands are here and nothing else changes.
“I thought James Norwood was excellent and has been for the last few games. He’s looked a real threat and had two very good finishes.
“Whoever you face in the play-offs is going to be tough because they are the next four best teams in the division, and there’s a lot of emotion. But I really enjoy it. It’s great to be in an environment like that. You find out a lot about yourself and that’s surely what football’s all about. Let’s get it on.”
Rovers took the lead in the 25th minute when a through-ball from Michael Ihiekwe put Norwood in on goal and he made no mistake, stroking it past Chris Cheetham. Barely a minute after the break, Norwood had his second when he collected a ball over his shoulder and expertly lobbed Cheetham from 25 yards. And that lead was extended further less than five minutes later when Jennings bent a beauty into the top corner from outside the box. Myers collected a yellow card for a late challenge on Lee Vaughan that saw the Rovers wing-back stretchered off before Myers rubbed salt in the wounds by pulling one back for Southport. But that was made academic when James Wallace slipped Jennings in for his second of the afternoon. After the match Southport’s interim chairman Nigel Allen said: “It has been an awful season, we know that. We can all sit here and review, reflect and analyse – there aren’t many high points. “Now is the time for Southport to unite. We must come together, look forward, regroup. “That includes the trust, the supporters and the town and it certainly includes the board. “This is not the way I would have liked to have found myself chairman of Southport Football Club. It is an interim role. “Let’s come out next weekend and show the true Southport Football Club and put some pride back into the shirt.”