Tranmere were forced to come back from two goals down to earn a point against Stevenage as they returned to the Football League after a three-game absence.
Micky Mellon handed Cole Stockton a start after he returned to the club this week, while Scott Davies returned following a groin injury that saw him miss most of pre-season. Zoumana Bakayogo also made his second Tranmere debut, while new boys Paul Mullin, Harvey Gilmour, Manny Monthe, Mark Ellis and Shamal George were all among the subs.
Rovers had the best of the first ten minutes, passing the ball confidently and looking the better side, all be it, without creating any real chances.
However, they found themselves 2-0 down by the half hour mark, gifting the opposition the ball in too much space. Scott Davies was twice beaten down in to his corners and Rovers’ return looked like being an unhappy one.
Rovers were though vastly superior in terms of the quality of football player, and you’ll have to go some way to see a move of higher quality than the one that brought them back in to the game shortly before the break.
A superb passing move allowed Banks to feed Jennings, Jennings to play Norwood through and the Tranmere hero from last May clinically rolled the ball under the advancing keeper for 2-1.
After the break it was all Tranmere, and a free-kick midway in the Stevenage half would present an opportunity to level. Smith flighted it deep in to the box, Sutton nodded it down across goal and that man Norwood was there again to somehow bundle the ball home.
From this point on, there should have been one winner. Jay Harris had a volley from range blocked while Norwood failed to meet low balls from both Banks and Tollitt. He also fired over from a tight angle on the half-volley.
The hosts were reduced to ten men for a foul on Tollitt as the Tranmere sub galloped away up the left wing. The same played had been given a yellow in the first half for snapping Jonny Smith, so he had it coming.
Tranmere couldn’t quite force the winning goal they deserved, and there were a couple of hearts-in-mouths moments at the opposite end.
All-in-all, an encouraging performance for Rovers on their return to the EFL.
