VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE RESULT

TRANMERE ROVERS 2 (Cook 41, Norwood 88pen) BARROW AFC 0

IT had to be him. Andy Cook showed just what Barrow AFC missed out on when they lost him at the start of the summer as he helped Tranmere to victory number two of the season.

Cook scored his first goal for his new club with a trademark towering header to send a message to the Bluebirds fans who had barracked him for much of the opening period of the game.

James Norwood added a late penalty to ensure Rovers extended their winning start to the season, while Barrow were left looking toothless at times in attack, even if their defence stood up well to the task.

Paul Cox named an unnamed squad for the trip to the grandiose Prenton Park – where last season Andy Haworth netted the only goal in a memorable Bluebirds win.

Liam Hughes – the goal-scorer against Aldershot – and Danny Livesey both came through Saturday’s game unscathed after battling ankle and knee problems respectively last week. The teams emerged to the extremely funky extended mix of the theme tune from 1970s TV detective show The Rockford Files and there will be an investigation into what happened to Rovers full-back Liam Ridehalgh, who walked on to the field and almost immediately off it to be substituted within a minute for Lee Vaughan as the hosts started with 10 men.

A frantic start saw the home side enjoy the early pressure, but they created no openings and it was Jordan Williams with the first shot as his 20-yarder hit Steve McNulty and went for a corner off the former Bluebird.

Shaun Beeley was alert to chase back a Norwood break into the area at the other end and put a foot in to take the ball away before it was cleared. There was little in the way of goalmouth action for the first quarter of the match, though Norwood fluffed his lines entirely when a Jay Harris ball played him into yards of space behind the AFC defence and then Beeley stretched out a boot to clear a Connor Jennings cross near the six-yard line.

The visitors survived a brief spell with 10 men as Nick Anderton was bandaged up following a cut to the head, before Livesey made a key clearance from a Jennings cross along the six-yard line as attackers lurked.

When the goal came, it was inevitable it would be Cook. A corner came in from the right and the ex-Bluebird, whose parentage, eating patterns and personal habits had been questioned by the vocal traveling support throughout the first half, was unmarked and rose to head home. Celebrating in front of said away fans, however, was not as impressive as his finish.

It could have been 2-0 before the break as Norwood was played in and beat Beeley once but could not do it a second time as the Barrow right-back took the ball away at the crucial moment.

Harris shot weakly from 20 yards and Dixon saved and Williams headed across goal from a long way out after a Hughes cross to end the first half with Rovers in the ascendancy.

Tranmere were back on the front foot after the break as Norwood made space but shot over and Barrow lost Livesey to injury.

As the home pressure carried on, Harris fired in a shot from the right which Dixon took comfortably above his head and Connor Jennings had a penalty shout turned down as he went to ground under pressure from Anderton. Straight to the other end, Williams fired off target from 20 yards in a quick counterattack.

Anderton dispossessed Norwood as he threatened to break into the Barrow box, with the visitors having only some scrambled half-chances in and around the Tranmere area.

Dixon dived to palm away a Jennings curling effort which was heading for the far post and Norwood blasted well off target as he showed his frustration at not being on the scoresheet.

Moussa Diarra put his foot in at the near post to deny Cook the chance of a second after Jeff Hughes had broken through and put a cross in. Hughes then fired over from 18 yards with a stinging effort.

At the other end, Barrow forced a corner and Liam Hughes saw an effort deflected behind as the hosts failed to clear properly.

Haworth and Richie Bennett came on as the Bluebirds looked for attacking impetus in the final 15 minutes, but instead Paul Turnbull had to tackle Jennings as Rovers had a three-on-two break that came to nothing.

Jennings was presented with the perfect chance to double the lead after Cook had weaved through and pulled the ball back, but he side-footed straight at Dixon.

Ross Hannah fizzed a 20-yard effort inches past the post with Scott Davies beaten in the Rovers goal, but soon it was game over.

Norwood ran alone into the AFC area and Dixon was out of goal, almost out of the area, when he brought him down to earn a yellow card. Norwood stepped up and blasted past the dive of Dixon to the left-hand side of the goal.

Tranmere Rovers (4-3-3): Scott Davies, Lois Maynard, Liam Ridehalgh (Lee Vaughan 1), Steve McNulty, Michael Ihiekwe, Steven Jennings, Jeff Hughes, Jay Harris, James Norwood (Jake Kirby 90), Andy Cook, Connor Jennings.

Substitutes Not Used: Iain Turner, Adam Mekki, Darren Stephenson.

Yellow Cards: Steven Jennings 31.

Barrow AFC (4-4-2): Joel Dixon, Shaun Beeley, Nick Anderton, Danny Livesey 7 (Euan Murray 51), Moussa Diarra, Alex-Ray Harvey 6 (Andy Haworth 81), Paul Turnbull, Liam Hughes, Ross Hannah, Byron Harrison 6 (Richie Bennett 76), Jordan Williams.

Substitutes Not Used: Andy Parry, Lindon Meikle.

Yellow Cards: Dixon 87, Murray 90.

Referee: Thomas Bramall.

Attendance: 4,977 (309 from Barrow).