Tranmere hosted Newport County this afternoon in their latest fixture in the 2022/23 League Two season.
Over the years, Tranmere Rovers have played against County a total of 32 times. Since their first encounter in 1959, County has emerged victorious 13 times, while Rovers have won 12 matches and the fixture has ended in a draw seven times.
The most recent game between the two teams saw Rovers suffer a 2-1 loss at Rodney Parade in August. However, for Tranmere fans, the most memorable match was the one held at Wembley Stadium in 2019, where Rovers clinched a 1-0 victory with a goal from Connor Jennings in the 119th minute of extra time, propelling them into League One.
Match Report: Tranmere Rovers v Newport County
| Tranmere Rovers 1 |  v  | 3 Newport County |
| Hendry (90’+2) | Goals | Wildig (25′), McNeill (30′) Kavanagh (82′) |
| Assists | Norman (30′) Wildig (82′) | |
| HT 0-2 |
A ghastly Tranmere Rovers acquiesced to Newport County, with strikes by Aaron Wildig, Charlie McNeill, and Calum Kavanagh punishing the Whites, meaning Regan Hendry’s piercing volley was all in vain.
Tranmere piled pressure on Newport’s abode straight from the kick-off, forcing errors out but never really leaving Joe Day with much to do.
Josh Hawkes looked to carve out Tranmere’s opening opportunities, with his first a fearsome volley after reacting to a looping ball, but Joe Day showed no hesitation to scoop the ball into his grasp.
A series of corners followed for the hosts, with the closest efforts coming from Hawkes after a viciously deflected effort looped onto the roof of the net and Logan Chalmers, who sprung himself across to reach an in-swinging cross, but it drifted far wide of the target.
You felt the number of chances Tranmere were creating and squandering, it was only going to be a matter of time before they would be punished, and they were in the worse way with the visitors drawing first blood.
The Exiles broke with Harry Charsley, whose deep cross picked Aaron Wildig in the area, with his firm strike rippling the net.
This sparked Newport into life and only Charlie McNeill missing the target narrowly saved Tranmere for the time being, but not for much longer.
Tranmere made a meal out of clearing a free-kick hauled into the area, McNeill reacts quickest to a loose ball in the area and he stabs home the second.
Omar Bogle and Harry Charsley were close to extending the visitor’s cushion to three, but their respective efforts weren’t taken.
Tranmere had the opportunity to half the deficit as Tom Davies sprung highest to win Regan Hendry’s corner on his head however, it didn’t have the desired power to reach the target.
The hosts knew they needed to inject urgency to have any chance in the game, and efforts from Tom Davies and Jake Burton should have reduced the arrears, but both were narrowly missed.
The offside flag became Tranmere’s best friend for a profound period as it prevented Newport a third. Wildig thought he had his second of the game as he stroked past an advanced Joe Murphy, but the fourth official deemed the County forward in an offside position.
The substitution of Joel Mumbongo added impetus to the Tranmere attack, with the forward heavily involved for Rovers after his introduction from the bench.
Many half-chances came and went for Rovers and just as it seemed they could possibly pull one back, the killer blow was dealt as Newport added a third.
The pacy Calum Kavanagh proved to be an inspired substitute, as he broke round the back of the Tranmere defence and calmly placed his effort beyond the reach of Joe Murphy.
A consolation was secured as Regan Hendry thumped home, but their harrowing display throughout the ninety minutes meant the goal proved to be too little, too late.
Tranmere visit Colchester United for a 3pm kick off on Saturday 25 March in their next game of the 2022/23 League Two season.
Match Highlights
Gallery
Credit: Tony Coombes
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Line-ups
Tranmere Rovers – Formation 4-4-2
13 Joe Murphy GK
2 Josh Dacres-Cogley DF
3 Ethan Bristow DF
5 Tom Davies (C) DF
14 Jordan Turnbull DF
24 Regan Hendry MF
19 Logan Chalmers MF
6 Chris Merrie MF
11 Josh Hawkes MF
26 Harvey Saunders FW
27 Jake Burton FW
Substitutes
23 Mateusz Hewelt SUB
4 Lee O’Connor SUB
17 Rhys Hughes SUB
33 Jay Turner-Cook SUB
25 Joel Mumbongo SUB
Manager
Micky Mellon
Match Officials
Referee: Darren Drysdale
Assistants: Thomas Harty and Gary Hilton
Fourth official: Jake Topp
Newport County – Formation 3-5-2
1 Joe Day GK
28 Mickey Demetriou (C) DF
5 James Clarke DF
18 Matthew Baker DF
2 Cameron Norman MF
29 Will Evans MF
24 Aaron Wildig MF
20 Harry Charsley MF
17 Scot Bennett MF
19 Charlie McNeill FW
9 Omar Bogle FW
Substitutes
30 Nick Townsend SUB
45 Evan Cadwallader SUB
4 Sam Bowen SUB
22 Nathan Moriah-Welsh SUB
11 James Waite SUB
16 Calum Kavanagh SUB
48 Kiban Rai SUB
Manager
Graham Coughlan
Attendance: 5496
League Table
League 2 season attendance
| Date | Opponent | Home Attendance | Away Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20/07/2022 | Stevenage | 6111 | |
| 06/08/2022 | Mansfield Town | 7128 | |
| 13/08/2022 | Gillingham | 5414 | |
| 16/08/2022 | Hartlepool Utd | 4072 | |
| 20/08/2022 | Newport County | 4070 | |
| 27/08/2022 | Colchester Utd | 5041 | |
| 03/09/2022 | Leyton Orient | 6578 | |
| 13/09/2022 | Bradford City | 5864 | |
| 17/09/2022 | Salford City | 3175 | |
| 24/09/2022 | Walsall | 5845 | |
| 01/10/2022 | Barrow | 6123 | |
| 08/10/2022 | Sutton Utd | 3007 | |
| 14/10/2022 | Crewe Alexandra | 8001 | |
| 22/10/2022 | Harrogate Town | 2316 | |
| 25/10/2022 | Rochdale | 5742 | |
| 29/10/2022 | Carlisle | 6576 | |
| 01/11/2022 | Stockport County | 6800 | |
| 12/11/2022 | Swindon Town | 9425 | |
| 19/11/2022 | AFC Wimbledon | 6010 | |
| 03/12/2022 | Northampton Town | 5,601 | |
| 10/12/2022 | Grimsby Town | 5134 | |
| 26/12/2022 | Doncaster | 7033 | |
| 29/12/2022 | Barrow | 3383 | |
| 01/01/2023 | Crewe Alexandra | 5349 | |
| 07/01/2023 | Sutton United | 5368 | |
| 14/01/2023 | Walsall | 6027 | |
| 28/01/2023 | Leyton Orient | 5946 | |
| 04/02/2023 | Stockport County | 10231 | |
| 07/02/2023 | Doncaster Rovers | 5775 | |
| 11/02/2023 | Salford City | 6516 | |
| 14/02/2023 | Bradford City | 15482 | |
| 18/02/2023 | Mansfield Town | 6282 | |
| 25/02/2023 | Stevenage | 3675 | |
| 28/02/2023 | Crawley Town | 5104 | |
| 04/03/2023 | Hartlepool United | 6320 | |
| 11/03/2023 | Gillingham | 5674 | |
| 18/03/2023 | Newport County | 5496 |
| 2022/23 Total home attendance | 115774 |
| 2022/23 Total away attendance | 105920 |
| 2022/23 Total attendance (Home & Away) | 221694 |
| 2022/23 Average home attendance | 6093 |
| 2022/23 Average away attendance | 5884 |
| 2022/23 Total average attendance | 5989 |
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