Tranmere salvage draw against Hartlepool

Tranmere hosted Hartlepool United this afternoon in their latest fixture in the 2022/23 League Two season.

Ahead of the game, Micky Mellon said, “I’ve always said it’s about trying to find that consistency in picking up points. We want to improve parts of our game, but I think getting clean sheets and results is something to build forward from because that’s what everyone wants, to win games and trying to hit a little run at this stage of the season would be great.

“We’ll take it step-by-step and one game after game and see where it takes us. 

“We try and pick a team that we think can get us a result, and the players in that team then use the qualities that they have in order to try and give us the chance of winning that game.

“We’ll have to be alert against Hartlepool this weekend but we’ll go and do what we have to do to try and win the game, and we will do that again on Saturday.”

Match Report: Tranmere Rovers v Hartlepool United

Tranmere Rovers 1	v	1 Hartlepool United
Hawkes (68′ pen)	Goals	Cooke (44′)
	Assists	Kemp (44′)
	HT 0-1

Josh Hawkes’ penalty in the second half helped Tranmere Rovers salvage a 1-1 draw against Hartlepool United at Prenton Park.

The draw potentially earned a crucial point in Hartlepool’s efforts to evade relegation.

During the early stages of the game, Rovers had the upper hand, as Harvey Saunders and Josh Hawkes had promising chances to take the lead.

However, despite a well-timed ball from Chris Merrie over the visitors’ defence, Harvey Saunders was unable to convert his first-time shot, hitting it weakly and straight at goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk, who kept Rovers from taking the lead inside the first 11 minutes.

However, just before half-time, it was the visitors who managed to take the lead with a goal from Callum Cooke.

Daniel Kemp delivered a lofted pass that found Cooke unmarked in the box, who cleverly chipped the ball with his right foot beyond Joe Murphy, slipping between Josh Dacres-Cogley and Tom Davies.

In the 68th minute, Tranmere was given a glimmer of hope when Harvey Saunders was brought down in the penalty box, leading to a penalty kick that Josh Hawkes confidently converted – marking his second successful spot-kick in a week.

Hawkes, who had scored the winner from a penalty in their previous match against Stevenage, powerfully struck the ball high into the top corner, hitting the crossbar before going in past the outstretched arms of Jakub Stolarczyk.

In the closing moments of the game, both teams had opportunities to secure all three points, but it was the visiting team who came closest to clinching victory. Daniel Kemp missed a crucial chance to win it for them, heading the ball wide despite having a clear shot at goal.

Tranmere visit Gillingham for a 3pm kick off on Saturday 15 March in their next game of the 2022/23 League Two season.

Match Highlights

Gallery

Credit: Tony Coombes

Fans’ Twitter Reaction

Post Match Interview

Line-ups

League Table

League 2 season attendance

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