HEAD of youth Kenny Shiels says Tranmere’s youngsters learned some valuable lessons from their defeat at Stockport in the Puma Youth Alliance League Cup.

Rovers went out of the competition at the group stage after surrendering a two-goal lead.

The visitors looked to be in control when they went 2-0 up thanks to strikes by Dale Jennings on 14 minutes and Ross Rule three minutes later.

But Stockport began a fightback by scoring just before half-time.

Rovers then buckled in the face of strong second-half pressure from the hosts and conceded goals on 77 and 86 minutes.

Shiels said: “The boys were disappointed to lose in the way they did but it was an important learning day for them.

“They were in total control during most of the first-half, playing fast-flowing football. But there is more to the game and playing well when you are on top. When the momentum of the game turned against them, they found it is one of the hardest things to get it back again. It was a lesson about closing a game up when you are on top and grinding out a result.”

TRANMERE travel to Walsall in a Youth Alliance League fixture on Saturday.