MANAGER John Barnes took a first-hand look at the players he has to back up his slim squad in Tranmere’s friendly at the Moss Rose – and came away with some encouragement.

The Rovers manager was obliged to give most of his first-teamers a day off after their exertions in the 2-2 draw against a Liverpool XI at Prenton Park on Friday night.

Young prospects Ash Taylor, Ryan Fraughan and Craig Curran found the energy to play in both games and assistant manager Jason McAteer, who retired from the professional game two years ago, put in a 45-minute appearance in the heart of midfield.

Meanwhile, Shaleum Logan, the 20-year-old full-back signed on a season-long loan from Manchester City, enjoyed his first taste of action in a Tranmere shirt.

But most of the line-up were playing Youth Alliance football last season.

The realities of the new lean set-up at Prenton Park is that many of them will be on the fringe of the first-team during the coming season.

They competed effectively against a Macclesfield side with a stronger representation of first-team players, supported by a liberal selection of trialists.

Tranmere conceded the only goal of the game during a spell early in the first half when the League Two team looked stronger and more effective going forward.

But the visitors fought back gamely in the second half, pressing the Silkmen and missing a couple of chances to equalise.

Their cause may have been helped by the wholesale changes Macclesfield manager Keith Alexander made at half-time but that should take nothing away from the encouraging signs.

Tranmere were well served by centre back Taylor, an 18-year-old playing his second 90 minutes of football in less than 24 hours, midfielders Fraughan, Jack Mackreth and Max Power as well as Logan.

The new arrival from Eastlands showed he was composed and confident on the ball and eager to push forward and support the attack from full-back.

Rovers could have been one down in five minutes when Ben Wright sliced a close range shot against the crossbar. So they could not complain about going behind in the 12th minute.

Macclesfield full-back Carl Tremarco, once a youth trainee and professional with Tranmere, flighted a right-wing corner to the near post where the tall Hamza Bencherief outjumped goalkeeper Joe Collister to head the ball home.

The visitors survived several more near misses before they began to turn the tide in midfield around the half-hour mark.

Tranmere should have levelled shortly after the restart when Curran ran clear through the inside right channel and angled a low shot against the inside of left-hand post. Jay Ashcroft could not guide his effort from the rebound onto the target.

Another piece of good work by Curran provided an opportunity at the far post for Fraughan, who was unable to control his close range shot.

TRANMERE: Collister, Logan, Baker, Taylor, Pursehouse, Mackreth, McAteer (Ashcroft 46), Power, Fraughan, Macauley (Benson 72), Curran.