A fine, bright afternoon, with a stiff breeze blowing welcomed the Rovers at Tranmere as two teams battling for promotion via the automatic positions or the play-offs faced each other. The Rovers of Doncaster lost out in a six-pointer at Carlisle United last Saturday and with Nottingham Forest coming up soon every point is vital and is going to be hard fought for. Today's game is 6th versus 4th, with Trenmere being four points behind the Rovers. For Doncaster Rovers, James O'Connor was out with a hernia problem and replaced by Matt Mills, the first change for a good while. Tranmere, looking to add to their run of 8 games without defeat, were unchanged from last week's draw at Bristol Rovers. The pitch was somewhat threadbare down the middle from goal to goal but with it being dry shouldn't be too bad. The Rovers defended the Prenton Road end where a goodly number of their supporters were housed.

Tranmere set the ball rolling but when the Rovers gained possession, on their left, COPPINGER received the ball from McCammon and unleashed a tremendous shot into the far top corner, going over the keeper on his six yard line. A great start to take the lead in the second minute. Tranmere's first effort on goal came after 5 minutes, when, following a throw in, Sherriff placed wide from 25 yards. Playing some good football the Rovers had another chance on 10 minutes when a good cross from Gareth Roberts on their left reached Price on the right. He elected to hit it first time left footed but the keeper, Coyne, was in the right place to save. Two minutes later, the home team won the first corner of the game, on their right. Kay, at the far post headed wide. After 19 minutes, following a free kick in the middle of the pitch, Price was played in to the left of goal, bringing a good save from Coyne at the near post. The corner to the Rovers brought pressure on the Tranmere defence, eventually coming out to Wellens, who crossed from the right. The ball came out for Coppinger to volley over the bar from around 30 yards. Three minutes later, Steve Roberts and Moore battled for the ball in the Rovers penalty area, with the ball going back to Mullin, who flicked it wide from about ten yards. Over the next fifteen minutes, play was reasonably even, with the home team possibly shading the attacking aspect of play. But it was the Rovers who had the only goal effort on goal when Lockwood headed over from a corner. On 37 minutes, a good cross from the left by Gareth Roberts was put out for a corner as McCammon challenged. Three successive corners followed as the Tranmere defence struggled to clear. Tranmere, despite having a good portion of the play, only had one shot on target, from Kay, about 25 yards out that Sullivan saved easily. Into added-on time and a free kick on the Rovers right was hit left footed and low by Gareth Roberts, going low under the wall but Coyne reacted quickly to drop on it and save well. A hard fought first half was brought to a halt, with the Rovers holding on to their one goal lead.

The Rovers got the second half underway and the battle of two evenly matched teams recommenced. After 51 minutes, following a tussle for the ball, Price was helped off with an ankle injury, Elliott replacing him. The game livened up on 55 minutes when a cross from the Tranmere right by Stockdale brought an overhead kick from Greenacre that went wide of the far post. Two minutes later and McLaren fired just over from the right angle of the Rovers penalty area. The Rovers went straight down to the home end where Coppinger placed a left footer from 25 yards over the bar. The Rovers then found themselves under the cosh for a spell but defended extremely well. On 73 minutes, the Rovers lifted the siege and forced a corner on their right. The ball eventually came out of defence to Stock but his effort was saved. Then Coppinger had a shot saved before Tranmere once again came storming back. A corner was followed by a fierce drive from Andy Taylor that Lockwood got in the way off and it hurt. Then a cross from the right byline by Greenacre was just too high for Zola, in the middle and was cleared. Again the Rovers stemmed the flow and forced a corner following a free kick. But the white shirted Tranmere stormed forward again with a cross coming in from the left by Andy Taylor which was met with a diving header from Moore, which Sullivan had to dive low to his left to hold. The attack continued into five minutes of added-on time but splendid defensive work by the Rovers gave them a terrific win by that single tremendous strike from Coppinger, a strike to win any game.

Teams - Tranmere Rovers - Danny Coyne; Robbie Stockdale, Antony Kay, Ian Goodison, Andy Taylor; Jennison Myrie-Williams, John Mullin, Paul McLaren, Shane Sherriff; Chris Greenacre, Ian Moore.

Subs used - Calvin Zola for Myrie-Williams 63 mins; Craig Curran for Greenacre 85 mins;

Subs not used - Adnan Ahmed, Ben Chorley, John Achterberg gk 

ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; Matt Mills, Steve Roberts, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Paul Green, Brian Stock, Richie Wellens; Mark McCammon, Jason Price.

Subs used - Stuart Elliott for Price 51 mins; Mark Wilson for Coppinger 87 mins; Gareth Taylor for Wellens 90 mins;

Subs not used - Paul Heffernan, Sean McDaid,

Cautions - Stock, Elliott, Lockwood,