Nigel Adkins hailed the character of his Tranmere side as they returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory at Bromley.
Two late goals from Omari Patrick and Harvey Saunders saw Rovers seal the points, and although Louis Dennis struck deep into stoppage time, it was to prove little more than a consolation goal.
“It was a hard-fought victory today,” said Adkins.
“We know that we have a team that competes, and we had to against a robust Bromley side.
“I asked them to stand toe to toe and they did that today. We were rewarded for that with a couple of good goals from Omari and Harvey.
“My players work hard and graft hard and I was proud of their efforts.”
Bromley started the game better and were unlucky not to take an early lead when Danny Imray hit the bar.
Ben Thompson then saw his curling effort well parried by Luke McGee in the Tranmere goal while Olufela Olomola failed to turn Imray’s cross home.
Tranmere also threatened and were denied the opening goal when Connor Jennings side-foot effort was somehow touched on to the stanchion by home goalkeeper Grant Smith.
Much like the first half, Bromley came out of the traps well in the second and good work from Imray saw him cross for Idris Odutayo, but the defender’s header was cleared off the line.
Second-half substitute Lewis Leigh was the next to go close, the midfielder’s curling effort tipped around the post by McGee.
With Tranmere content to wait for their moment, it looked like it may have come when a ball fell to Cameron Norman at the back post but his strike was deflected inches past Smith’s right hand post.
They did not have to wait much longer, however, as Patrick took advantage of hesitant Bromley defending to toe-poke Tranmere into the lead.
Levi Amantchi missed a golden opportunity to equalise firing over the bar and Tranmere made Bromley pay when Saunders profited from a loose back pass to seal the three points.
Even then Bromley continued to press and Cameron Congreve drew a brilliant save from McGee before Louis Dennis pulled a goal back, sliding in to dispatch Odutayo’s cross.
The defeat extended Bromley’s winless run to nine games to leave them just above the bottom two, and Ravens manager Andy Woodman did not hide his frustration at the result.
“We had so many chances today and didn’t put them away and you can’t do that,” he said.
“The goals we gave away were embarrassing and frustrating. You look at the balance of the game, Grant Smith had one serious save to make and we’ve come away with a defeat.
“We have no option now other than to dig deep and I trust my players to dig deep.”
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