TOWN manager Eoin Hand was looking to build on the club’s highest ranking since his arrival as a 1-0 success over Tranmere Rovers pushed them into third place in Division III.
The victory, earned by a 66th minute strike from substitute striker Iffy Onuora, saw Town extend their unbeaten League run to eight games – their best for six years.
However, the visitors returned to the Wirral feeling that they had been denied at least a point.
Rovers thought they had taken the lead on 32 minutes when Jim Harvey beat Town keeper Lee Martin direct from a free kick, only for referee David Scott to rule out the ‘goal’.
While Scott had booked loan signing Brendan O’Connell for his challenge on Neil McNab, the Burnley official said he had awarded an indirect free kick for ungentlemanly conduct and instantly ruled out Harvey’s strike.
Town had strived hard for their victory which was sealed by 22-year-old striker Onuora’s tidy finish past Rovers keeper Eric Nixon after he had been put through on goal by midfielder Chris Marsden’s pass.
“My instructions were simply to try and upset the Tranmere defence and to knock them out of their rhythm,” said Onuora.
“It was great when the goal went in. Chris Marsden did really well to work the pass through to me and I clipped the shot because I was falling – I didn’t know I had scored until I heard the crowd cheering.
“But the best part about it was that it gave us a tremendous result and there is a fantastic atmosphere in the dressing room at the moment.”
However, Town’s hopes of putting more pressure on the division’s leading duo – Bristol City and Notts County – did take a knock with the news that influential midfielder Marsden had totted up 21 disciplinary points for the season and would be banned for their next two outings.
“It is a big blow. Chris has been a regular this season and he has done as much as anyone to get us into the position we are in now,” said manager Hand.
“It is a test for our squad, but I feel we have got sufficient strength in depth to cover for his absence.”
Hand was also delighted that Onuora had netted his fifth goal of the season and added: “It is always nice when a substitution works like that, but I just felt that the game needed a change at that stage.
“Iffy gave us the injection of power that was needed.
“We also needed to clarify one or two points about our defensive game and I think that showed through against Tranmere.”
Town: Martin, Marsden, Hutchings, May, Mitchell, Lewis, Wilson, Bray, O’Connell, Maskell (O’Regan 85 mins), Smith (Onuora 60 mins).
Tranmere: Nixon, Higgins, McCarrick, McNab, Hughes (Irons 84 mins), Vickers, Morrissey, Harvey (Bishop 71 mins), Steel, Muir, Thomas.
Referee: David Scott (Burnley).
Attendance: 7,005
