Morecambe reserves 5-3 Tranmere reserves

There were no further goals in the remainder of the first half, although Tranmere perhaps should have put themselves ahead, with Shaun Garnett's side attacking through-out but failing to get another break-through.

George O'Callaghan was pulling the strings for Tranmere in midfield, with his passing central to many Tranmere attacks, but striker Terry Gornell found himself running offside too often, whilst winger Dave Wilson's crosses were also often over hit or too close to the goalkeeper.

At the other end, John Achterberg made a couple of saves although he was never really tested, with most Morecambe efforts rolling slowly along the wet ground towards the waiting Dutchman.

Shortly after half-time though, Tranmere put themselves ahead for the first time in the match as substitute Corrigan, who replaced Wilson after the interval, slotted neatly under the goalkeeper who couldn't get close to a loose and underhit back-pass by the Morecambe defender.

Morecambe hit back soon after though as a shot beat John Achterberg at the far post, but Tranmere pressed back and on 57 minutes defender Luke Waterfall put Tranmere 3-2 up, scoring a bullet headed from near the penalty spot as he connected with Charlie Barnett's corner kick.

After the hour mark though, Tranmere began to sit back and defensive lapses led to three goals, earning Morecambe a vital three points in the League Cup group.

The Shrimps made it 3-3 when substitute Josh MacAughley, playing on the right-wing after replacing Ross Rule, was too easily beaten on the wing and allowed the Morecambe winger to too easily put a cross into the back post, where an unmarked Aaron Taylor headed home his second goal of the night.

Taylor then completed his hatrick a few minutes later, putting Morecambe into the lead for the first time since the opening few minutes.

John Achterberg put in a rash tackle inside the penalty area, tripping the Morecambe player and after the referee had awarded the spot kick, Taylor stepped up and sent Achterberg the wrong way, cooly slotting the ball to the goalkeeper's left.

A third goal in thirteen minutes then sealed the game for Morecambe when former Manchester United and Chester played Michael Twiss ran on to a long ball and easily shrugged off Luke Waterfall before slotting under goalkeeper John Achterberg.

Tranmere had some chances to get back in the game but they failed to take any of them.  The closest they came was when Aaron Cresswell saw his superb long range effort tipped over the bar by 'keeper Davies, who made a brilliant one handed save, before Charlie Barnett rattled the cross bar with another long range effort.

Terry Gornell put one effort just wide of the post from the edge of the area before Josh MacAughley hit the side netting, whilst Tranmere's final chance of the game fell to George O'Callaghan, but the Irishman was denied the chance to shoot by a superb last ditch tackle from Morecambe defender Jim Bentley.

Rovers then lost the game 5-3, although the scoreline was perhaps unfair to Shaun Garnett's side, who only had themselves to blame for defeat, having made two many defeats during the game.

At the back, Rovers were sloppy, with Waterfall in particular making too many errors, whilst after a good first half, George O'Callaghan gave the ball away too much in the second half.

Another first teamer Terry Gornell had a dissapointing game too, with his first touch letting hime down on the day, although his play whilst with back to goal was generally good and strong.

Barnett's set pieces were good whilst Cresswell, Holmes and Pursehouse all put in solid displays, although the stand out player for Tranmere, in my opinion, was captain Paul Henry, who put in a very good shift in central midfield.