Match ends, Tranmere Rovers 3, Morecambe 1.
Tranmere Rovers moved to within two points and a place of the League Two play-off spots with a Boxing Day win over Morecambe.
Micky Mellon's hosts led after three minutes when Connor Jennings' deflected effort fell to Cole Stockton, who struck low from the left of the penalty area into the bottom left corner.
Stockton then turned provider for Rovers' second in the 29th minute.
After controlling Jake Caprice's cross from the right, he fed top scorer James Norwood who poked home right-footed from close range.
It was 3-0 on the stroke of half-time when Jay Harris met Liam Ridehalgh's cross from the left to guide his header in from six-yards.
Jim Bentley's Shrimps pulled one back after 66 minutes when left-back Jordan Cranston drove into space and thumped his strike past Scott Davies from distance.
Mellon's Rovers professionally saw out the game, to climb to eighth, while Morecambe drop to 20th place.
Report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Tranmere
Formation 5-3-2
- 1Davies
- 3Ridehalgh
- 6Monthe
- 16EllisBooked at 86mins
- 4SuttonSubstituted forGilmourat 83'minutes
- 14Caprice
- 11Jennings
- 12McCullough
- 8Harris
- 20StocktonBooked at 37minsSubstituted forMullinat 83'minutes
- 10Norwood
Substitutes
- 2Buxton
- 9Mullin
- 18Smith
- 22Gilmour
- 23George
- 24Bakayogo
- 29Cole
Morecambe
Formation 4-4-2
- 21Halstead
- 27Cranston
- 16Lavelle
- 5Old
- 2MillsBooked at 65mins
- 11EllisonSubstituted forOatesat 59'minutes
- 15WildigBooked at 57mins
- 6TutteSubstituted forKenyonat 59'minutes
- 17Mandeville
- 9Oliver
- 28Leitch-SmithSubstituted forThompsonat 83'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Kenyon
- 7Thompson
- 12Oswell
- 13Szczepaniak
- 14Yarney
- 18Oates
- 25Hedley
- Referee:
- Scott Oldham
- Attendance:
- 7,483
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home9
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away5
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Tranmere Rovers 3, Morecambe 1.
Post update
Delay in match Liam Ridehalgh (Tranmere Rovers) because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt missed. Rhys Oates (Morecambe) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Morecambe. Conceded by Liam Ridehalgh.
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Attempt missed. Paul Mullin (Tranmere Rovers) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jordan Cranston (Morecambe) left footed shot from very close range is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Booking
Mark Ellis (Tranmere Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Mark Ellis (Tranmere Rovers).
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Rhys Oates (Morecambe) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt saved. Paul Mullin (Tranmere Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Morecambe. Garry Thompson replaces A-Jay Leitch-Smith.
Substitution
Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Paul Mullin replaces Cole Stockton.
Substitution
Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Harvey Gilmour replaces Ritchie Sutton.
Post update
Corner, Morecambe. Conceded by Emmanuel Monthe.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Rhys Oates (Morecambe) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
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Foul by Connor Jennings (Tranmere Rovers).
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Jordan Cranston (Morecambe) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Cole Stockton (Tranmere Rovers) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Cole Stockton (Tranmere Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.