Experience showing as Tranmere climb into top three of League Two

A sixth consecutive win helped Tranmere move into the automatic promotion places in League Two after a relatively comfortable 3-1 victory over managerless Port Vale.

The opening exchanges were cagey with both teams quite evenly matched and having spells of possession without fashioning any clear chances. Once Kaiyne Woolery put Rovers ahead, they never looked in trouble.

A fantastic pass fromJay Spearing would not have looked out of place at the Camp Nou and it was moments of quality like this from Tranmere’s experienced professionals that ultimately proved decisive.

James Vaughan is another player who has vast experience under his belt in the Football League and he sealed the win with his first goal coming from a real touch of class. Woolery’s cross was deflected into his path and the former Everton man who spun his defender and fired across Scott Brown with the ball going in off the post.

The spine of Keith Hill’s side has plenty of games under their belts but importantly, they look as if they still have plenty of fuel left in the tank for a promotion push.

Peter Clarke is the epitome of this. Having recently turned 39, the central defender is the sixth oldest player to have featured in the division this season. With a previous promotion achieved back in 2011/12 with Huddersfield, the defender is now hoping he can lead Rovers back into League One in the twilight of his career.

His composure on the ball was evident during the win. He was very comfortable with the ball at feet and was always looking to play passes into midfield. Sometimes this was at odds with his manager, with Hill calling for him to play a long diagonal towards Vaughan.

Tranmere’s no.26 was always looking for the ball from goalkeeper Scott Davies, with his centre back partner Manny Monthe preferring to pump the ball longer.

Another way the pair complimented one another is Clarke was happy to let the towering Monthe to go up for the aerial challenges, with the veteran defender sweeping up any loose balls.

On one occasion, he did go up for a header he was beaten in the challenge by Kurtis Guthrie so it proved wiser to call the Cameroonian to challenge in the air.

Clarke did have some joy in the opposition box, however. Having peeled away to the back post from a corner, he headed back across goal with the ball scrambled clear by the Port Vale’s defence. It fell to Vaughan but Brown was able to save it.

Rovers’ veteran also won another corner in the second-half, having held onto the ball in the box and showing the composure of a winger against the Valiant’s back-line.

The former Bury man provided a comedy moment in the second-half as he fell onto the ball in his own area and trapped it between his legs before standing up and shimmying out and away from danger.

Not everyone saw the funny side as the Port Vale coaching staff were incensed. The referee saw nothing wrong with it however and booked a member of Vale’s staff in the process.

Clarke has proved durable thus far, having made more appearances than any other of the centre-backs and his knowledge and know-how should prove vital between now and May.

Just in case there wasn’t enough experience in the squad, Rovers brought in David Nugent on deadline day to add a few more years to the average age.

Most of the teams around them may have the games in hand, but for now, Tranmere have the points on the board as they continue to build pressure on their rivals. They’ll be hoping the run continues against Stevenage on Tuesday.

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