TRANMERE needed a pep talk from manager John Barnes before they could take charge of last night’s pre-season friendly at Haig Avenue.
Second half goals from Ian Moore and Ash Taylor secured Rovers a victory over non-league Southport by a comfortable margin.
Yet they had been fortunate to reach the interval on level terms after allowing the Blue Square North part-timers to take the first half initiative.
Striker Gary Kinsella put the Sandgrounders deservedly ahead on the half hour. Midfielder Alan Mahon levelled three minutes later and Barnes had his players lift the tempo of their passing after the break.
Even so, a makeshift defence that included youth trainee Alex Pursehouse, first year professional Ash Taylor and trialist George Abbey could not afford to relax against an enterprising Southport team.
Luke Daniels, beginning a season long loan with Tranmere from West Bromwich Albion, was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the first half and was grateful when trialist George Abbey cleared a close range effort from Peter Moore off the line.
Tranmere took longer to inject some cohesion into their passing than they had on their previous outing against championship opponents Preston last weekend.
And it was no surprise when Southport took a 30th minute lead through Gary Kinsella, who found space inside the box to turn home a pass from striking partner Steve Daly.
Tranmere levelled three minutes later when Alan Mahon made the most of some slack marking on the edge of the home box to drive a venomous low shot past Tony McMillan.
The goalkeeper then tipped over a speculative chip shot from Ian Moore soon afterwards as the visitors began to look more threatening going forward.
Daniels had to make a full length save to prevent substitute Bradley Barnes putting Southport back in front with a well struck shot from the edge of the box on 53 minutes.
Rovers, labouring to establish any kind of authority over the part-timers began to make substitutions just before the hour mark. One of the new arrivals, Ryan Fraughan fired narrowly wide of the right hand post from 20 yards.
The ground was drenched in a cloudburst when Ian Moore gave Tranmere a 68th minute lead with a goal that owed much to good fortune.
Midfielder Mark Allott sliced a shot from the right hand edge of the box yards off target but straight into the path of Moore, who guided a precise header just inside the left hand post.
Tranmere added a third goal on 80 minutes when substitute Chris Shuker’s left wing cross was deflected to the far post, where defender Ash Taylor headed home from point blank range.
SOUTHPORT: McMillan, Lever (Winn 46), Gray (Lundon 64), Davis, Marsh-Evans, P Moore, Booth, Powell (Barnes 46), Aley (McGinn 46), Daly, Kinsella (Amadi 46).
TRANMERE: Daniels, Pursehouse, Abbey, Taylor, Cresswell, Barnett (Shuker 63), McLaren (Welsh 58), Allott, Mahon (Fraughan 58), I Moore (Gornell 80), Curran.
REFEREE: Peter Bankes.
