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Rovers again named two almost completely different teams in each half of the match with Ronnie Moore keen to give all of his squad a run out.
There was one new face in the Tranmere line up, as Christian D'Bale, a French triallist played on the left-wing, replacing Geerd Bakke who has been released.
The other ten men along with Douval in the first half were Coyne, Johnston, Goodison, Kay, Sherriff, Shuker, McLaren, Jennings, Greenacre and Zola. Both Chorley and Mullin sat out the match with injuries.
Rovers put on the early pressure but seemed intent on walking the ball into the net despite often finding themselves in good shooting positions.
Chris Greenacre got Tranmere's first of the game in the first half, as he diverted a Shane Sherriff shot-come-cross past the Heswall 'keeper into the net from close range.
Tranmere later hit the bar twice in the first half, first Greenacre forcing the 'keeper into pushing the ball onto the bar with a looping header before Zola hit the bar with Rovers last effort of the half, the striker heading a corner on to the upright from near the penalty spot.
Rovers made nine half time substitutes, with only Goodison and D'Bale retaining their place from the first half. The other nine players on the pitch were Achterberg, Tremarco, Holmes, Stockdale, Ahmed, Henry, Jones, Taylor and Curran.
The second half was much the same as the first, as Rovers continued to press without creating any real chances.
A substitution came after around 10 minutes of the second half however, with Davies replacing triallist Douval and it was a substitute which changed the game.
Davies was immediately into the game as he scored only about five minutes after coming on, cooly netting from close range after breaking the Heswall offside trap.
Ahmed came close soon after with a shot from the edge of the dee which was saved by the Heswall 'keeper whilst Davies soon got his second and Tranmere's third of the game, the left-winger scoring a great goal where he cut inside the Heswall defence before shooting low past the Heswall 'keeper into the corner from a tight angle.
Rovers came close to a fourth on a number of occassions, with Curran first seeing his deft chip drift just wide before the 'keeper made a fine save from Curran's rebound shot near the six yard box.
Rovers final chance of the game of real note was a free-kick from Steve Davies from 25 yards, awarded after a Heswall player and been removed from the pitch following a two-footed tackle on Mike Jones. Davies curled the ball towards the top corner and it was going in before the Heswall 'keeper caught the ball on his line.