Both teams were unchanged from their respective last outings. Brian Little kept faith with the side that won in midweek against
The game initial period was a drab and shabby affair with both sides trying to win midfield dominance and neither created much or were able to build any sustained pressure on either goal.
Then on the half hour, the Spireites took a surprise lead through Jamie O'Hara who picked up Kevan Hurst's through ball midway in the Rovers half and unleashed a brilliant effort passed a bemused Dino Seremet from 30 yards to give the Spireites a welcome boost.
The Spireites goal brought the game to life and the lead lasted six minutes Rovers pushed the Spireites back into there own half and Gareth Roberts, Jason McAteer and Carl Tremarco exchanged passes on the left. The ball eventually came back to McAteer, who curled a fantastic ball to the far post with Sam Aiston getting the better of Phil Picken and stabbed the ball home from close range to level the scores.
On 39 minutes, Aiston made it three goals in five days to put home side 2-1 up. Calvin Zola appeared to push Steve Blatherwick whilst flicking on a Seremet clearance into the path of the winger Aiston who fired a tremendous shot past Carl Muggleton to match O'Hara's earlier effort in the goal of the game stakes.
Downes volleyed over O'Hara's free kick on 42 minutes but Rovers with just five seconds of normal time in the first half left, went 3-1 up. Zola held off the challenges of Blatherwick and Downes and his low drive was pushed out by Muggleton into the path Chris Greenacre who was on hand to tap in the rebound.
Half-Time 3-1 Rovers
No doubt with stiff words said at half time the Spireites forced three early corners in the second period. Though a foul on Zola led to McAteer curling a 25 yard free kick wide of Muggleton's near post.
Roy McFarland brought on Adam Smith to replace the out-of-sorts Kevan Hurst just before the hour mark. Then Rovers though made it 4-1 on 65 minutes with a move started and eventually finished by the impressive Steve O'Leary. O'Leary found Zola on the left the midfielder continued his run forward and side footed the cross into the roof of the net giving Muggleton no chance
Steve Jennings, replaced McAteer for Tranmere and Caleb Folan replaced Derek Niven for the Spireites,
Jennings was quickly into the acton and tried to make it five with a fine solo run on 72 minutes, and substitute Facey forced a one handed save out of Muggleton seconds later as Rovers continued to push forward.
With Tranmere in control, the Spireites, looking a shadow of there pre-Christmas selves, made a third substitution by bringing on on Colin Heath for Colin Larkin.
The three substitutions perked up the Spireites. Adam Smith shot over from distance for the Spireites shortly before Danny Harrison replaced the injured Tremarco.
Caleb Folan then failed to notch what would have been a consolation goal after Smiths cross was headed across goal by Hall and Folan under pressure shot over the bar from close range.
So Tranmere finally won a Saturday home game this season against a Spireites side that performed disappointingly but better than against Yeovil.Though the play offs hopes of recent times seem but a distant memory.
Tranmere: Seremet, Raven,
Referee: Colin Webster
Yellow cards: Allott (69)
RS
