A young Fleetwood Town side lost their secondgame of pre-season at the hands of National League play-off final runners up Tranmere Rovers 3-1.
Two goals from James Norwood and a deflected effort from Adam Buxton sealed the win, with a Jack Sowerby free-kick in the second half giving Town something to take back home with them.
Town started the side with three experienced forwards leading the line with Ash Hunter, Devante Cole and Wes Burns. Harvey Rodgers played from the start in central defence with Victor Nirennold and Joe Maguire playing wing-backs.
Both sides cancelled each other out in the opening encounters as most of the play was in the middle of the pitch. Burns looked to be a standout straightaway but the chances he created were quickly closed down by the Tranmere backline.
Rovers opened up the scoring early on as Norwood picked up the ball inside the Town box in the eighth minute, and was able to pass his shot into the back of the net past Chris Neal.
Town instantly looked like they were almost back into it less than ten minutes later as Burns drove down the right wing, into the area but his shot was straight at former Fleetwood keeper Scott Davies.
Hunter looked feisty towards the end of the first half and he tried his luck from range but Davies was on top of it, saving the shot comfortably. This kept the score at 1-0 going into the break.
Tranmere doubled their lead soon after the half after a cross into the box led to the ball bouncing between players, ending up at Norwood’s feet, who turned it in.
Town looked to be the better side after that as the sharpness of the side shone through. Burns test Davies in the 55th minute, who had to parry wide for a corner before Markus Schwabl’s shot from the edge of the box went over the bar.
Rosler’s side found their way back into the game in the 70th minute as Sowerby and Maguire stood over a free-kick. Maguire stepped back and Sowerby curled one into the top corner from 25-yards. A great finish.
A late deflected effort from Buxton sealed the win, but there was plenty of positives for Town despite the scoreline.