Tranmere Rovers - Who needs a lemon when you've got a Mellon!

Tranmere won the National League title and promotion back to the football league with a 1-0 a home against Braintree, Andy Cook's goal giving them the 3 points they needed.




Tranmere: Davies, Vaughan (McNulty 61), Fitzwater, Vyner, Coker, Shaw, Harris, Tombides, Tollitt (Mekki 78), Norwood (Mangan 61), Cook.
Subs Not Used: Turner, Wallace.

Booked: Coker, Harris, Mangan.

Braintree: Beasant, Ashton, Goodman, Stoke, Okimo, Beere, Corne, Lee (Braham-Barrett 72), Dunne (Gayle 77), Midson (Akinola 61), Goodship.
Subs Not Used: Banner, Barnard.

Booked: Corne, Goodman.



Referee: C Hicks
Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 5,264 (41 away)
Possession: Tranmere 53% - 47% Braintree
Shots: Tranmere 14 - 2 Braintree
On Target: Tranmere 5 - 1 Braintree
Fouls: Tranmere 18 - 10 Braintree

Tranmere boss Micky Mellon was delighted after seeing his Tranmere side win the National League title with a 1-0 win against a very defensive Braintree side at Prenton Park.

Playing away from home against the league leaders, Braintree defended for the lives and kept 11 men behind the ball for the majority of the game. It was clear that the home side were getting frustrated but Tranmere were able to make the breakthrough when Andy Cook fired home a pass from Jay Harris.

"It was a great show of patience by us today," Mellon told BT Sport.

"Braintree came here with a game plan and set their stall out to defend for the entirety of the game. It was always going to be difficult to break them down with 11 behind the ball. I told the guys at halftime that we just needed to be patient and that our chance would come, and I'm glad we managed to take our chance. I couldn't think of anyone else I would have wanted on the end of that chance and Cookie took it brilliantly."

"I'm absolutely over the moon to deliver the title for the fans. Make no mistake, this title and promotion are for them. I have never come across a more passionate or dedicated set of fans than we have here at Prenton Park so it's great to finally give them something to shout about after a number of years of despair."

Here we have all the reaction after Tranmere secured the National League title with a 1-0 win at home against Braintree.

"I'm so proud of what we've achieved this season. I said when I came back that my goal was to win the league and I'm delighted that we've managed it. However, the season isn't over and we need to continue to win and take the moment into next season. A big thanks to the fans as well, they've been incredible."
Tranmere manager Micky Mellon

"I'm absolutely made up. We're back! League Two watch out because we're not a team to be underestimated."
Tranmere captain Steve Jennings

"It's a great feeling. It was our aim to win the league at the start of the season so to do so brings me and the lads a great deal of pride. I'm glad I've been able to do my bit and hopefully I keep scoring in the higher leagues."
Tranmere top goalscorer James Norwood

"Tranmere have been a class apart in the National League this season. Micky has them playing some great stuff.
Former Tranmere manager and Radio City pundit John Aldridge

"It's a great day for the football club. We are back in the football league where we belong. I'd like to thank Micky and the players for all their hard work and the fans for their continued fantastic support. The objective now is to remain in the football league."
Tranmere chairman Mark Palios

Congratulations on promotion mate, hopefully you'll be able to take Tranmere back to the glory days again. Weren't too long ago they were in the mix for promotion to the Championship!

Huge big massive congratulations on promotion! A big step for the football club!

What a performance! Amazing feeling winning the title.

Cheers lads. It's a good feeling to be back in the football league. Going to make FM18 a very interesting challenge!

Torquay remain in the National League relegation zone after a James Norwood equalizer secured a point for league champions Tranmere.




Torquay: Moore, Duhaney, Gallifuoco, McGinty, Hamalainen (Burgess 78), Deacon, Richards (Young 63), Verma, Sparkes, Williams, Ward (Chaney 73).
Subs Not Used: Jezeph, Lathrope.

Tranmere: Davies, Buxton, Fitzwater, Vyner, Honeyball (Coker 45), Shaw, Wallace, Harris (Tombides 77), Tollitt, Norwood, Cook (Mangan 71).
Subs Not Used: Turner, Ihiekwe.

Booked: Buxton, Harris.



Referee: S Ross.
Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 1,437 (212 away)
Possession: Torquay 39% - 61% Tranmere
Shots: Torquay 3 - 20 Tranmere
On Target: Torquay 1 - 7 Tranmere
Fouls: Torquay 8 - 19 Tranmere

Tranmere boss Micky Mellon has been named as the National League Manager of the Month for the 5th time this season after leading his side to the National League title.

Mellon has been named as the National League Manager of the Month for a fifth time, adding to the awards he won for the months of August, September, October and January. Tranmere played five National League games in March and picked up 13 points out of a possible 15, confirming themselves as National League champions in the process.

Mellon thanked the National League for giving him the award.

"It's an honour to receive this award for a 5th time and I think that it's a testament to how well the players are playing at the moment. The lads have been nothing short of superb so far this season and we will look to continue our good run in the final 6 games."

Tranmere's March National League Record

4th - Chester 1-2 Tranmere - Norwood 43, Cook 48
14th - Tranmere 1-0 Dover - Norwood 27
21st - North Ferriby 0-2 Tranmere - Cook 20, 37
25th - Tranmere 1-0 Braintree - Cook 79
28th - Torquay 1-1 Tranmere - Norwood 87

Three losses all season, that's a very good record!

2017-08-29 12:43#246048 ScottT : Three losses all season, that's a very good record!

Cheers think FM18 will be harder in League Two

Andy Cook scored twice for the visitors, as Tranmere got the better of bitter rivals Wrexham, winning 3-1 at the Racecourse ground.




Wrexham: Jalal, Gabriel, Wynter, Bainbridge (Carrington 64), Evans, Wintle (Gillett 45), Cox, Rooney, Clarke (Marx 64), McDonagh, Harvey.
Subs Not Used: Dunn, Newton.

Booked: Wynter, Bainbridge.

Tranmere: Davies, Buxton, Honeyball, Vyner, Fitzwater, Shaw (Ridehalgh 72), Wallace (Tombides 55), S Jennings, Tollitt, Cook, Norwood (Mangan 72).
Subs Not Used: Turner, Coker.



Referee: A Backhouse.
Stadium: The Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 6,470 (1,102 away)
Possession: Wrexham 37% - 63% Tranmere
Shots: Wrexham 12 - 24 Tranmere
On Target: Wrexham 7 - 11 Tranmere
Fouls: Wrexham 9 - 11 Tranmere

Ben Tollitt scored the winner, as Tranmere laboured to a 3-2 win over Solihull Morrs at Prenton Park.




Tranmere: Davies, Buxton, Ihiekwe, Vyner (Honeyball 64), Coker, Shaw, Tombides, Hughes (Wallace 64), Tollitt, Norwood, Cook (Mangan 64).
Subs Not Used: Turner, Fitzwater.

Booked: Buxton, Ihiekwe, Shaw, Hughes, Wallace.

Solihull Moors: Johansson, Koue, Daly (King-Elliott 72), Goode, Streete, Franklin, Spencer, Byrne (Osbourne 61), Richards, Asante (Knights 78), White.
Subs Not Used: Smith, Beswick.

Booked: Streete, Franklin..



Referee: C Harwood
Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 5,142 (106 away)
Possession: Tranmere 61% - 39% Solihull Moors
Shots: Tranmere 14 - 8 Solihull Moors
On Target: Tranmere 4 - 5 Solihull Moors
Fouls: Tranmere 20 - 15 Solihull Moors

James Norwood equalised late on to cancel out a Max Hazeldine opener, Tranmere drawing 1-1 with Aldershot at Prenton Park.




Tranmere: Turner, Buxton, Fitzwater, Honeyball, Vyner, Shaw, Wallace, S Jennings (Tombides 60), Tollitt (Mangan 60), Norwood, Cook.
Subs Not Used: Davies, Coker, McNulty.

Booked: Fitzwater, Vyner, Buxton, Shaw, Wallace, S Jennings.

Off: Buxton (86).

Aldershot: Cole, L Wakefield. Conroy, Goulding (Reynolds 80), Evans (Staker 90), Fenelon, J Wakefield, Bellamy, Mensah, Rendell (Kanu 66), Hazeldine.
Subs Not Used: Smith, Allen.

Booked: Bellamy, L Wakefield, Mensah, Evans.



Referee: R Whitton
Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 5,101 (125 away)
Possession: Tranmere 58% - 42% Aldershot
Shots: Tranmere 22 - 10 Aldershot
On Target: Tranmere 9 - 2 Aldershot
Fouls: Tranmere 18 - 20 Aldershot