RAMPANT ROVERS IN FULL FLOW

TRANMERE Rovers produced a scintillating attacking performance to burst into the first round of the FA Cup at the expense of a shell-shocked FC Halifax Town.

The visitors had only scored three goals on their travels all season but were a class apart at the Shay as goals from Connor Jennings, James Norwood and Liam Ridehalgh cancelled out a Steve McNulty own goal.

Rovers got off to the perfect start after only five minutes when Ollie Norburn slipped a sumptuous pass through to Jennings, who produced a composed finish to beat Sam Johnson.

The Shaymen were given a glorious opportunity to get on level terms on 15 minutes after Adam Morgan was brought down by Scott Davies, but the Tranmere stopper made amends by keeping out Morgan’s spot-kick.

Morgan’s blushes, however, were spared five minutes later when McNulty, inexplicably, turned Ben Tomlinson’s squared pass into his own net.

Rovers, however, still dominated the remainder of the half with Norwood’s lob over Johnson drifting wide before he had a header cleared off the line.

Andy Cook then tested Johnson with a thunderous drive, but Norwood, on the rebound, fired over.

Jennings and Norwood continued to probe with efforts which flew narrowly off target before Norwood finally got the goal he deserved on the stroke of half time when he beat Johnson with a fine curling effort from the edge of the box.

Rovers looked equally as comfortable after the break and made the game safe 13 minutes into the re-start through Ridehalgh’s brilliant free kick, which cannoned in off the bar.