ROVERS SET THE TONE
TRANMERE ROVERS 1 BROMLEY Jennings 35 0
MICKY Mellon saw beauty in Tranmere’s ground-out victory over Bromley at Prenton Park, which roars them into second place and sets up a goliath clash with Macclesfield Town on Tuesday night.
Connor Jennings grabbed the only goal of the game in the first half and despite a couple of hairy moments a ninth straight home victory means Rovers are now the team in hot pursuit of the league leaders.
Tranmere didn’t have it all their own way, but roared on by a crowd of over 5,500, they showed the determination of prospective champions.
“Whatever the game asks you, you’ve got to keep answering the question and to a man the players did that today,” Mellon said.
“We’ll not always get the game of our dreams. The fans were brilliant today because they understand that sometimes the game just goes that way.
“But there’s something really nice about seeing your team battling and scrapping and fighting away, getting a clean sheet and winning 1-0.
“The pitch didn’t play well today which we’re very disappointed about. But we dug in and you can see the togetherness of the group. The fans made a massive contribution. I hope they now get what a big impact they can have on us.”
A mistake on the edge of his own box by Jay Harris gifted Luke Wanadio a chance just past the half hour mark, but Scott Davies – sparing Harris’ blushes – tipped his curling effort around the post.
Nine minutes before the break, a delicious ball over the top from Adam Buxton reached David Gregory before Jennings, but the Ravens keeper let the ball slip through his legs allowing the Rovers midfielder to tap into an empty net.
Bromley improved after the break when Brandan Hanlan got the wrong side of Steve McNulty but the big striker’s shot was straight at Davies.
Tranmere wasted numerous opportunities on the counter attack and nearly paid for it deep in injury-time when Davies had to deny Louis Dennis before Josh Rees blazed over the rebound.
Ravens boss Neil Smith said: “We huffed and puffed at the end. When Louis (Dennis) went through – especially the way he’s been finishing – I thought it was a goal but he hit it straight at the keeper.
“But for a club like Bromley to have Tranmere on the ropes at some stages of the game was a massive achievement for my players.
“We’ve come a long way as little club to be in and amongst Tranmere Rovers in this brilliant stadium and coming away disappointed not to have taken a point.”