Tranmere Rovers come out 4-1 winners after a pre-season visit to Southport FC

The sun was shining down on Southport to make it a fantastic day for a bit of action in Merseyside with the music booming around the stadium welcoming the players and fans.

Tranmere took the short trip to visit Southport for their third pre-season in preparation for the campaign having already beaten Warrington Town and also falling to a narrow defeat to Scottish sides Hearts.

For Southport it was their second game of pre-season as they fell to a 2-0 defeat to Blackpool a couple of weeks ago.

Lovely day for a bit of pre-season action between @southport_fc and @TranmereRovers. Good following from the away side with a bit of Mr Blue Sky in the background. #Southport #TRFC pic.twitter.com/JaButjyz2U
— Elliot Thompson (@Elliothompson02) July 16, 2022

The home side who currently sit sin the sixth tier of the English football pyramid started the game well creating some problems for Tranmere number one Ross Doohan as he dropped a cross but it didn’t lead to a chance.

Dylan Vassallo a few minutes alter whipped in a delicious cross from the left hand side which only needed a delicate touch to be turned into then net but the ball missed everyone.

Despite the decent start their good work was undone after the opening goal came from Kane Hemmings.

A nice throw-in routine led to the ball coming to Hemmings at the back post who neatly finished to give the favourites the lead.

Two minutes later Rhys McAlear doubled the lead for the side from Birkenhead with some delightful link-up play around the edge of the box with Hemmings.

A one-two opened up the space and McAlear finished off with aplomb into the bottom left corner.

👏 Attendance at today's fixture is 1,006 with 484 travelling #SWA

Brilliant support as always, thank you#TRFC pic.twitter.com/m7A0cBFBik
— Tranmere Rovers FC (@TranmereRovers) July 16, 2022

Five minutes later Southport came ever so close to dragging themselves back into the match with Josh Hmami stood over a free-kick.

From 25-yards out he struck it superbly for the ball to come crashing off the woodwork, so close to an absolute stunner.

The away side had some half chances to extend their league even further before the break but Southport ten minutes before the interval had the best opening.

Jordan Archer the number nine had the ball and it was a two on one counter attack however his pass was a poor one and the resulting shot was dragged well wide.

Going into the second half there was a few changes from the away side with the intention of getting fitness levels up ahead of the new campaign.

It didn’t take long for Micky Mellon’s side to get another goal as seven minuets into the restart their substitution who came on upfront linked up well with Hemmings, who the Southport defence couldn’t deal with, and found himself free in the penalty area.

The substitute slotted home calmy.

Over the speakers it was announced that the goal scorer was ‘the mysterious trialist’ which is always expected in the warm-up games before the season begins.

Trialist 1 came so close to grabbing another goal for himself a minute later with the ball whizzing just behind him whilst he was on the goaline.

On the hour mark Southport changed the majority of their side with a host of substitutions with Tranmere doing the same.

The next bit of goalmouth action was from Sam Taylor as ran the length of the pitch after a Southport corner but the goalkeeper Tony McMillan smothered the chance well rushing off his line to close down the angle.

Finally though in the 74th minute Southport got on the scoresheet through a fantastic finish on the edge of the box from Charlie Munro giving the home support of 522 something to shout about.

Five minutes later McMillan provided the save of the game somehow spreading himself across his goal to stop what looked like a sitter, he then made another save form the resulting corner to deny Hemmings his second of the game.

With a few minutes to go Josh Hawkes scored the pick of the bunch to make it 4-1.

From outside the area Hawkes bent the ball into the top left corner leaving McMillan motionless in his goal, the cherry on top of a good day for League Two Tranmere.

The 90 minutes in the hot conditions should prove to be a very effective run out for both sides as they look to prepare for promotions pushes in their respective leagues.

Tranmere Rovers come out 4-1 winners after a pre-season visit to Southport FC

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