Match ends, Tranmere Rovers 3, AFC Wimbledon 2.
AFC Wimbledon's slim hopes of claiming a League Two play-off spot came to an end with a defeat by Tranmere at Prenton Park.
The first genuine chance of the match came for the home side in the 25th minute when Harvey Saunders' effort from six yards was pushed wide by Dons goalkeeper Nik Tzanev.
But Saunders made amends in the 35th minute as he took full advantage of a defensive lapse before calmly slotting the ball just inside the far post.
Rovers made it two on the stroke of half-time when Rob Apter curled a beautiful left-footed effort past Tzanev from 12 yards.
The Wombles reduced the deficit 10 minutes after the restart when substitute Josh Kelly fired home his first for the club from the edge of the area.
But the away side's task was made all the more difficult when John-Joe O'Toole received a straight red card for a high tackle on Chris Merrie.
And Tranmere took full advantage with 20 minutes left on the clock when Connor Jennings fired the ball home from close range.
Kelly grabbed a consolation for the visitors deep into stoppage time but the damage had already been done.
Report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Tranmere
Formation 4-4-2
- 1McGee
- 2O'Connor
- 15Hockenhull
- 30Belehouan
- 26Norris
- 25ApterSubstituted forTaylorat 82'minutes
- 8Hendry
- 16MerrieSubstituted forKanéat 90+3'minutes
- 19SaundersSubstituted forHawkesat 83'minutes
- 18Jennings
- 9NorrisSubstituted forDennisat 83'minutes
Substitutes
- 11Hawkes
- 13Murphy
- 14Dennis
- 20Taylor
- 23McAlear
- 24Pike
- 32Kané
Wimbledon
Formation 4-3-2-1
- 1Tzanev
- 5Balmer
- 31LewisBooked at 45mins
- 6Johnson
- 26Currie
- 4Reeves
- 19O'TooleBooked at 59mins
- 17McLeanSubstituted forNeufvilleat 8'minutesSubstituted forSasuat 75'minutes
- 38GordonSubstituted forKellyat 45'minutes
- 24Curtis
- 18Chaaban
Substitutes
- 3Brown
- 9Davison
- 10Kelly
- 11Neufville
- 13Foulkes
- 16Ball
- 29Sasu
- Referee:
- David Rock
- Attendance:
- 6,456
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away4
- Corners
- Home11
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home5
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Tranmere Rovers 3, AFC Wimbledon 2.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Jean Belehouan (Tranmere Rovers).
Goal!
Goal! Tranmere Rovers 3, AFC Wimbledon 2. Josh Kelly (AFC Wimbledon) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Omar Bugiel.
Post update
Attempt missed. Omar Bugiel (AFC Wimbledon) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Kofi Balmer.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Kristian Dennis (Tranmere Rovers) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Ousmane Kané replaces Chris Merrie.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jack Currie (AFC Wimbledon) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jake Reeves.
Post update
Chris Merrie (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Dangerous play by Ronan Curtis (AFC Wimbledon).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Joe Lewis (AFC Wimbledon) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Omar Bugiel.
Post update
Foul by James Norris (Tranmere Rovers).
Post update
Aron Sasu (AFC Wimbledon) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Kristian Dennis (Tranmere Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Lee O'Connor.
Post update
Offside, Tranmere Rovers. Kristian Dennis is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Josh Hawkes replaces Harvey Saunders.
Substitution
Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Kristian Dennis replaces Luke Norris.
Substitution
Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Samuel Taylor replaces Rob Apter.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ben Hockenhull (Tranmere Rovers) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Regan Hendry with a cross following a corner.
Comments
Join the conversation
As for Tranmere, playing well and proving there is a team in Merseyside that knows how to score goals.
(And we've just scored!)
Dons are going up ole ole 🤣
Still they beat MK Dons at their new home this season with a late, late winner so that will more than satisfy the majority of them.
Get ready for next season v MK Dons too, their defence is way too fragile to do anything in the play-off's
Faster they drop out if the leagues the better