Tranmere Rovers......1

Southport.................0

Tranmere climbed up to fourth in the National League after a second half James Norwood penalty secured victory over Southport in the Merseyside Derby.

Victory for Rovers was their sixth in seven matches in what was the first league meeting at Prenton Park between the two sides in more than 40 years.

Gary Brabin made one change to the side that beat Torquay United the previous Saturday, bringing in Jeff Hughes for Adam Mekki who had fallen ill.

Rovers had two chances within the first minute when Lois Maynard’s attempted lob was pushed wide by Sandgrounders’ keeper Max Crocombe and from the ensuing corner Michael Ihiekwe headed wastefully over from six yards out.

Southport responded when Mike Phenix slalomed his way past Liam Ridehalgh before curling a shot just wide of the far post.

Norwood picked the pockets of the Southport defence in the 22nd minute, but Crocombe held his cross-come-shot on the goal line.

Norwood then slipped Hughes clean through, but the visitors’ keeper saved his low shot comfortably.

Adam Blakeman tested Scott Davies with a 25-yard free kick, which the Rovers’ stopper gathered at the second attempt.

Tranmere had appeals for a penalty waved away five minutes before the break when the visitors appeared to handle in the box; referee Karl Evans opted for the safer option of a corner instead.

Liam Nolan forced Davies to push a 30-yard drive wide at full stretch just before the interval as Southport sent a timely warning to their dominant hosts.

A moment of controversy arrived early in the second half when Norwood appeared to be brought down in the penalty area, but the match official was having none of it and subsequently booked the former Forrest Green striker for diving.

Rovers should have taken the lead on 50 minutes when Vaughan picked out Hughes in the box with the outside of his foot, but the midfielder’s close range shot was saved by the feet of Crocombe.

Smelling blood, Tranmere were now getting forward at every opportunity and pushing Southport further back.

Rovers were finally awarded a penalty just past the hour mark when Luke Foster was adjudged to have pushed Gary Taylor-Fletcher in the area.

Norwood made no mistake from the spot, sending the unfortunate Crocombe the wrong way for his 11th league goal of the season.

A slip by Ihiekwe let in Jamie Allen fort Southport but Steve McNulty swept up the danger.

Maynard then forced a good save out of the busy Crocombe from long range before sending another effort over the bar as Rovers tried to kill off the contest.

Nolan had a good chance for the Sandgrounders with seven minutes to go but blazed over from the edge of the box.

The visitors continued to exert late pressure but Rovers held on to continue their impressive upturn in fortunes.

Brabin said: “At the moment we’re looking pretty solid when we’re out of possession. We’ll settle for that one goal but I think we had a few good chances to be a little bit more comfortable.

“It wasn’t to be but it was nice to get another clean sheet, another home win and another three points.

“Jeff (Hughes) has only trained trained with us for one day (since injury). He’s done great getting through the 90 minutes today.

"He’s had good chances there to score but he’s a real asset to the side and I’m delighted having him back.

“I thought we looked solid and well deserved of the points.

“Nors looks an obvious penalty from where I was. He hasn’t given it, but we’ve worked hard and ended up getting the next one and thankfully Nors has scored."

Match Stats:

Tranmere Rovers: 1 Norwood 63

Southport: 0

Half time: 0-0

Star man: Jeff Hughes (Tranmere midfielder)

Attendance: 5,199

Entertainment: 3/5

Ref rating: Karl Evans (7/10)

Tranmere (4-2-3-1): Davies (player rating) 7; Vaughan 7, McNulty 7, Ihiekwe 6, Ridehalgh 6; Jennings 7, Harris 7; Hughes 8, Maynard 7, Taylor-Feltcher 6 (Mackreth 81, 6); Norwood 7.

Subs not used: Turner, Sutton, Stockton, Kirby

Southport (4-4-1-1): Crocombe (player rating) 8, Wright 6, Thompson 7, Foster 7, Blakeman 6, Phenix 6 (Grimshaw 90, N/A), Nolan 7, Jones 6 (Giles 65, 6), Rutherford 6, Almond 5 (Bishop 60, 6), Allen 5.

Subs not used: Viscosi, Ryan.