Match ends, Tranmere Rovers 0, Forest Green Rovers 1.
TranmereTranmere Rovers0Forest GreenForest Green Rovers1
Tranmere's automatic promotion League Two hopes were dealt a serious blow as they were beaten 1-0 by play-off rivals Forest Green at Prenton Park.
An early second-half strike from Junior Mondal proved to be the difference as Mark Cooper's side survived an avalanche of Tranmere attacks to move to within a point of their hosts in the play-off pack.
There was little between the sides in the opening period, with League Two Player of the Year James Norwood launching an attempted lob over the bar.
But two minutes after the break, the Gloucestershire club went ahead when a pull back from Joseph Mills was beautifully side-footed into the top corner by Mondal, leaving Scott Davies clutching thin air.
Tranmere responded and laid siege on the visitors' goal. Paul Mullin's overhead kick was brilliantly kept out by James Montgomery, before the Tranmere substitute saw a 25-yard free kick smash against the post.
Despite the hosts' best endeavours - after losing centre-back Mark Ellis in the first half to a knee injury - they could not carve out an equaliser and now look like they must settle for a play-off berth instead.
Report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Tranmere
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Davies
- 14Caprice
- 16EllisSubstituted forNelsonat 27'minutes
- 6Monthe
- 24Bakayogo
- 19Morris
- 8HarrisSubstituted forDagnallat 85'minutes
- 28Banks
- 27PringleSubstituted forMullinat 55'minutes
- 10NorwoodBooked at 80mins
- 11Jennings
Substitutes
- 2Buxton
- 4Nelson
- 9Mullin
- 18Smith
- 22Gilmour
- 25Pilling
- 29Dagnall
Forest Green
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Montgomery
- 2Shephard
- 6Rawson
- 19McGinleyBooked at 80mins
- 23Mills
- 7Winchester
- 5CollinsSubstituted forGunningat 69'minutes
- 25MondalSubstituted forDigbyat 75'minutes
- 10Brown
- 11WilliamsSubstituted forGrubbat 46'minutes
- 9Doidge
Substitutes
- 4James
- 8Grubb
- 16Gunning
- 20Digby
- 21McCoulsky
- 26Reid
- 34Ward
- Referee:
- Dean Whitestone
- Attendance:
- 9,468
Match Stats
Home TeamTranmereAway TeamForest Green
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home2
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Tranmere Rovers 0, Forest Green Rovers 1.
Post update
Sid Nelson (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Christian Doidge (Forest Green Rovers).
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Attempt missed. Paul Mullin (Tranmere Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Corner, Forest Green Rovers. Conceded by Sid Nelson.
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Foul by Chris Dagnall (Tranmere Rovers).
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Reece Brown (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by James Norwood (Tranmere Rovers).
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Liam Shephard (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Paul Mullin (Tranmere Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Chris Dagnall replaces Jay Harris.
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Attempt missed. Kieron Morris (Tranmere Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
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Attempt missed. Carl Winchester (Forest Green Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Booking
Nathan McGinley (Forest Green Rovers) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Connor Jennings (Tranmere Rovers).
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Nathan McGinley (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Booking
James Norwood (Tranmere Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Paul Mullin (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Farrend Rawson (Forest Green Rovers).
