Tranmere brushed aside Southport at Prenton Park with relative ease, running out 4-1 victors today. However, a serious injury to Lee Vaughan may prove to be the defining moment of the game.
Tranmere led 1-0 at the break thanks to a James Norwood goal in the 25th minute, and the forward struck again within a minute of the restart with a fine lob over the goalkeeper from at least 25 yards..
It looked as though it could become a cricket score as Connor Jennings made it 3-0 on 52 minutes, but the game would be disrupted by a needless tackle on Vaughan.
The challenge was ugly, the Southport player going through the standing leg of the Tranmere full-back after the ball had gone. Typically, he was not sent off – another indication of the abysmal and amateur standard of refereeing in this division.
Vaughan has a broken leg and will miss the remainder of the season.
To rub salt in the wounds, Southport pulled a goal back shortly after before Jennings grabbed his second to restore a two-goal cushion and put the seal on a 4-1 win.
