However, the game ended in a 3-1 defeat for Tranmere, as their tougher, taller, more physical opponents were able to battle past the Rovers youngsters who were not as strong as their older opponents.
Three professionals started for Tranmere, with Luke Waterfall, Aaron Cresswell and Paul Henry all playing for the second night running after making appearances at Southport last night. The full Tranmere line up was as follows:
Collister
Richardson, Jones, Waterfall, Cresswell
Wilson, Fraughan, Henry (c), Ash Taylor, Corrigan
MacAughley
The first half was a tight affair, with neither side able to get much of a grip on the game. Each side got themselves in threatening positions, but on each occasion the final ball was lacking or the ball was simply lost all together.
Niether side was backing out of tackles, with the referee having to cool things down on a number of occasions as players came flying in. Indeed, in a competative match, a number of players from each side could have been cautioned or worse, with Paul Henry coming face to face with an opponent (who looked like a larger version of Vladamir Smicer) on one occasion and right-back Joel Richardson being kicked to the ground in poor tackles twice in a matter of minutes.
With wingers Wilson and Corrigan regularly switching sides, Tranmere were able to press forward quickly in attack, especially when full-backs Aaron Cresswell or Joel Richardson joined in.
Indeed, it was a Wilson cross that nearly brought a chance although Corrigan was flagged offside after the ball had been headed out for a corner, whilst a Cresswell cross was headed well wide by MacAughley.
Tranmere's best move of the first half came down the left-hand side, with Aaron Cresswell lobbing a perfect ball down the line to winger Louis Corrigan. The winger carried the ball forward before whipping a brilliant cross into the box, only for MacAughley to miss the chance thanks to a good last ditch tackle from the Colwyn Bay defender.
As a rule though, Tranmere's chances were few and far between. The 4-5-1 formation left lone striker Josh MacAughley far too iscolated, with the Rovers youngster rarely recieving the ball, and even if he did, he had nobody to lay it off too.
Colwyn Bay too had a few chances, with a couple of them created by Paul Henry, as terrible first touches saw him give the ball away in dangerous positions, but The Seagulls couldn't capitalise and as a result Collister was rarely tested, with any of their few shots going wide or over, whilst a break down the middle almost came ot a goal, but for Cresswell to brilliantly muscle the striker off the ball.
Rovers though did defend well, with the likes of Cresswell and Jones in particular commanding at the back, as they won several important tackles and headers against their taller opponents.
However, it was the home side who took the lead just before half-time, as a flowing move eventually saw the ball reach the left-winger who whipped in a good cross that was headed powerfully into the net by the number ten after Luke Waterfall had missed a header.
The second half was much more open, with both sides having several chances to change the scoreline, whilst both managers appeared to have told their places to calm down, as the hard tackles of the first half were no longer present.
The first goal of the second half was scored by Colwyn Bay, and it was probably the pick of the goals on the night. A quite superb ball was played over the Tranmere defence from midfield, splitting centre-backs Waterfall and Jones and allowing the Colwyn Bay striker to nip in and find the back of the net from just inside the penalty area.
With the hosts now two up, Tranmere's heads seemed to drop, and a third goal was only just around the corner. Inevitably, it soon came, and it was another fantastic goal, as The Bay scored a 25-yard free-kick, with the taker smashing it into the left-corner and once again leaving 'keeper Collister with no chance.
Colwyn Bay saw another chance go unluckily over, before Josh MacAughley missed a simple chance for Rovers. The striker picked up an immaculate pass from Ryan Fraughan on the edge of the area and rounded the 'keeper before smashing his chance wide, whilst a few minutes later Aaron Cresswell hit one effort horribly wrong, sending the ball high and wide into the fields behind the goal.
Rovers boss Shaun Garnett made four subsitutes, with Ashton Taylor and Josh MacAughley amongst those replaced, and first year scholars including Ashcroft and McReth joining the action.
Said subsitutes made an immediate impact, with McReth scoring a fantastic solo effort. The youngster showed increadible pace, skill and ball control to sprint down the left-wing, cut inside past several defenders and score from an increadibly tight angle inside the penalty area.
Few chances remained in the game, although Rovers almost scored when a looping back-pass from a Colwyn Bay defender went horribly wrong, forcing the 'keeper to leap up and catch the ball. From the resulting indirect free-kick, Aaron Cresswell saw his powerful effort blocked.
The game then finished in a 3-1 defeat for Tranmere, although the youngsters could hold their heads high after putting in a good display against a much stronger, taller and more mature opposition.
Although the formation leaving just MacAughley upfront might need to be worked on, the likes of Wilson, Corrigan and Jones put in good performances, whilt Aaron Cresswell was the pick of the Tranmere players on the night.
However, Ashton Taylor looked indifferent in midfield as opposed to defence where he has played for the last 18-months, whilst Paul Henry was poor on the night, his first touch letting him down on several occasions, and Ryan Fraughan was fairly anonomous.