Gills leave Prenton Park empty handed following 3-1 defeat.
Rob Apter scored twice as Tranmere beat Gillingham 3-1 at Prenton Park on Saturday.
Stephen Clemence made one change to the starting XI that beat Salford last weekend, with Scott Malone returning to captain the side. Max Clark dropped to the bench while Ashley Nadesan missed out.
Gills could not cap off a fantastic passing move in the opening minutes of the game. Shad Ogie, Conor Masterson and Jake Turner were playing it around the back as Tranmere applied the pressure, leaving Turner with few options.
He did well to pick out a pass into George Lapslie, which opened up the game. The ball moved through the midfield before the forward run of Malone was spotted down the left. He got down the line before sending a cross towards the near post. Unfortunately, it was too close to the goalkeeper, with Tom Nichols making a run towards the ball.
Connor Mahoney had Gillingham’s first shot in the 20th minute. He had the ball 25 yards from the goal and had plenty of time and space to set himself before shooting. However, he fired his effort over the crossbar, leaving Luke McGee untested.
Kristian Dennis had a great opportunity shortly after as he was played through on goal. Brad Walker received the ball before playing a defence-splitting pass for Dennis to latch onto. He did well to stay onside as he raced towards the Gillingham penalty area. Fortunately, he shot from a tight angle from just outside the box and he dragged his effort well wide of the far post.
In the 34th minute, Gills had a good opportunity when Malone tested McGee. After a good passage of play to work their way into the Tranmere penalty area, Nichols had the ball before laying it off to the overlapping Malone. He saw his shot saved by the feet of the Tranmere goalkeeper before the rebound came out to Nichols. The forward directed it towards the six-yard box, causing a mini scramble before McGee gathered the loose ball.
Apter came inches away from giving the hosts the lead. The ball was played out to Apter on the right, who cut onto his left foot as he drove goalward. He bent his effort towards the far top corner, with many home supporters believing it was nestling into the back of the net. However, it went inches wide with Turner at full stretch.
The Tranmere winger made no mistake though in the 43rd minute. A ball was played forward, and Gills failed to clear the danger, allowing Apter to latch onto the ball inside the penalty area. He had the ball at a tight angle before smashing a half-volley beyond Turner and into the top corner at the near post.
HALF-TIME: Tranmere Rovers 1-0 Gillingham
In the 53rd minute, Connor Jennings doubled the Tranmere advantage. Walker curled a cross into the box, and Jennings managed to get half a yard before angling a header into the far corner of the net.
Apter made it three as he was able to cut onto his left foot inside the penalty area. His effort was a central one that found its way beyond Ogie and Turner as it trickled into the back of the net.
In the 62nd minute, Gills made a double change as Tim Dieng and Jayden Clarke replaced Jonny Williams and Lapslie respectively.
Dieng almost made an immediate impact when he volleyed a cross into the box towards the near post, but McGee did well to push it wide of the goal.
Ethan Coleman stung the palms of McGee when he shot from 20 yards out. His effort had some movement and the Tranmere goalkeeper had to readjust himself. However, he pushed it well away from the danger.
Moments later, Gills came inches away from scoring when Macauley Bonne, who earlier replaced Nichols, flicked a corner towards the back post. It needed just a touch to nudge the ball into an empty net, but Ogie was inches away from making the desired contact.
Malone almost caught McGee out as he dinked an effort goalward from the edge of the penalty area. The Tranmere goalkeeper had to backpedal before pushing it just over the bar for a corner.
Mahoney scored in the first minute of stoppage time. Tim Dieng was fouled in a central position 25 yards from the goal, and Mahoney took the free-kick. He curled his effort into the back of the net beyond an outstretched McGee, who could not get near the effort.
FULL-TIME: Tranmere Rovers 3-1 Gillingham
Tranmere Rovers: McGee, O’Connor, Davies, Turnbull (Yarney 81’), Wood, Apter (Hawkes 89’), Walker (McAlear 81’), Hendry, Morris (Saunders 89’), Jennings, Dennis
Unused Substitutes: Robson, Leake, Pike
Gillingham: Turner, Alexander, Masterson, Ogie, Malone, Coleman, Jefferies, J. Williams (Dieng 62’), Lapslie (Clarke 62’), Mahoney, Nichols (Bonne 72’)
Unused Substitutes: Morris, Clark, Ehmer, S. Williams
Referee: Marc Edwards