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Ronnie Moore made one change to the side that luckily won 3-1 against Hartlepool United at the weekend with Antony Kay dropping to the bench, replaced by Ian Goodison in the starting line up, whilst Jennison Myrie-Williams also returned to the bench after his ankle injury.
The first half was really a bit of a none event, with horribly windy conditions and the driving rain making it difficult for both teams early on. Plenty of surface water on the Prenton Park pitch also made it difficult to judge what the ball was going to do when it bounced, as it could just stop or skid up past an unsuspecting player.
Tranmere had the first of very few chances in the first half, with Ben Chorley looping a header from a McLaren free-kick straight at Anyon whilst at the other end former Crewe player Luke Rodgers smashed a free-kick well over the bar.
Howland hit another effort over for Vale from 25-yards soon after, this coming just before Tranmere came so close to opening the scoring on eleven minutes.
Greenacre did brilliantly on the left-wing to pick the ball up and as it looked as if it would roll out for a free-kick, the tirelessly working striker slid in to win the ball back from the defender and slide a cross in along the six yard box. Ian Moore advanced on the cross and his a deflected shot towards goal. Just as it looked as if the effort had crossed the line, it was cleared by a Vale defender, with Paul McLaren smashing the re-bound wide with his weak left foot.
The rest of the half however saw very little goalmouth action as each team scrapped the game out in midfield, with Jennings making some key tackles for Rovers whilst Ben Chorley won a number of big headers at the back.
Coyne was forced into collecting a few crosses that were made difficult by the swirling wide, although otherwise he wasn't really tested, whilst Tranmere finished the half with Greenacre seeing one powerful drive blocked and Andy Taylor playing a neat one-two with Ian Moore before scuffing a right footed shot wide.
The second half was much brighter for Tranmere. The wind had now died down a little whilst the rain had stopped falling, allowing for a more controlled passing game to be played by the Tranmere midfield.
Greenacre came close on 48-minutes as his deflected shot required Anyon to tip it over for a corner before a weak Sherriff header as he backpeddled was straight at the Vale 'keeper from McLaren's free-kick.
With Tranmere now on top against a Port Vale team who were offering very little, Ronnie Moore replaced Chris Shuker, who has now got another sixty minutes of match sharpness under his belt, with Jennison Myrie-Williams on the right-wing. This was a substitution that would change the game, as Myrie-Williams ran at the defenders and scared them with their pace, creating chances for Tranmere to go on and win the game.
Just after Myrie-Williams' introduction, Moore and Greenacre combined well before Moore fed Robbie Stockdale in the penalty area but Anyon was able to push Stockdale's shot around the post for a corner.
Greenacre then saw a shot on the angle saved by Anyon whilst Myrie-Williams blasted over from close range before Tranmere took the lead on 68-minutes.
Steven Jennings sent a brilliant pass over the top to the un-marked Myrie-Williams on the right wing, who collected the ball by the bye-line and after getting it under control, cut inside only to be fouled right on the edge of the penalty area by Paul Edwards. The referee awarded Tranmere a penalty and Chris Greenacre stepped up to dispatch the spot kick, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and putting Tranmere 1-0 up.
Taylor smashed a loose ball that had only partially been cleared from a corner over the bar on 75-minutes whilst at the other end there was some pressure from Port Vale, with Goodison lucky to see Danny Coyne rush out and clear a pass from Ben Chorley that Goodison had decided to leave.
In a five or so minute spell, Vale had a lot of the ball in the Tranmere half, but they were unable to create any chances as the ball either went astray or the Rovers defence stood firm to win and clear the ball.
Tranmere had another chance to double their lead around the eighty minute mark, once again from the penalty spot. Myrie-Williams again had the ball on the right and as he cut inside past the defender, he was once again tripped, resulting in a second Tranmere penalty. Greenacre again stepped up to take the spot kick but Anyon made a superb save, making himself big as Greenacre smashed the ball down the middle of the goal only for Anyon to deflect the ball over with his legs.
On 88-minutes though it was finally 2-0 as Ian Moore got his third goal of the season in a Tranmere shirt. The striker was set down the left wing by Sherriff and as from a very tight angle in the penalty area, he curled the ball passed the goalkeeper and into the bottom right-hand corner with his right foot.
Tranmere deserved the win in the end against a Port Vale team who offered very little going forward after the opening twenty minutes.
Rovers themselves were not up to their best but in the second half they out-played the visiters, having most of the possession and all of the chances, so they were well worth their win.
Myrie-Williams' introduction really changed the game for Tranmere and he has posed a real question to Ronnie Moore of who to pick on Monday at Bournemouth, with Sherriff, Shuker and Myrie-Williams fighting it out for two places in the team.
In the second half, after a bit of long ball stuff in the first 45, Tranmere attacked with more purpose and got more shots away on target. They looked to get the ball down and pass it around more, which Port Vale really couldn't cope with.
The win for Rovers puts pressure on the teams above them as they move up to fifth in the table and if results go their way, come Monday evening Tranmere could be fourth in the League One table. We can only hope!
Jones' Man Of The Match: For me there were a number of solid performances by the Tranmere players tonight. Full-backs Andy Taylor and Robbie Stockdale got forward and defended well whilst Ben Chorley was excellent at the back, winning a number of tackles and headers. Man of the match for me though was Chris Greenacre. He might have missed a penalty, but the striker worked so hard and thoroughly deserved his goal. He linked up well with Ian Moore in what is a partnership that is beginning to reap goals, something that can only benefit Ronnie Moore's side in their quest for promotion.