Tranmere Rovers claimed all three points with a 1-0 win over bottom-of-the-table Macclesfield Town at Prenton Park. Both sides went close to breaking the deadlock with direct free-kicks with full-back Adam Buxton hitting the post after 12 minutes and midfielder Michael Rose also denied by the post for the visitors after 70 minutes. Loan midfielder Harvey Gilmour snatched the winner for the hosts after 74 minutes as they bounced back from defeat.

Tranmere Rovers went into the game having been thrashed 6-0 at Shrewsbury Town in a midweek EFL Trophy tie and after a quiet opening 12 minutes they were inches away from breaking the deadlock when Buxton beat visiting goalkeeper Rhys Taylor with a direct free-kick from 25 yards which crashed against a post. Defender Manny Monthe then headed Rose's free-kick into his own net but it was ruled-out for offside.

Striker Connor Jennings glanced a header wide from Gilmour's corner after 18 minutes before midfielder Ollie Banks played the ball across the face of goal but no one was on hand to get a decisive touch. Home goalkeeper Scott Davies was forced into his save from striker Malachi Napa's long-range effort five minutes before half-time before striker James Norwood headed straight at Taylor from full-back Jake Caprice's cross.

The home side increased the pressure with just under an hour played. Norwood turned on the edge of the box before hitting a shot which was saved by the fingertips of Taylor. Norwood was foiled by Taylor moments and Monthe met the resulting corner with a header straight into the arms of Taylor. The Silkmen almost snatched the lead at the other end when winger Tyrone Marsh blazed over from the centre of the box.

Norwood was denied by the feet of Taylor in a one-on-one before Rose beat Davies from a 25-yard free-kick but it bounce back off the post. The deadlock was broken after 74 minutes when Jennings played in Gilmour and he fired low into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. Striker Nathan Blissett twice went close to snatching an equaliser but failed to hit the target and his side remain without a league win this season.

Tranmere Rovers manager Micky Mellon will be relieved after his side managed to find a breakthrough against the bottom side. Macclesfield Town need to appoint a successor to Mark Yates as soon as possible.