Aldershot Town’s FA Cup dream drifted away into a filthy and ultimately anti-climactic night at The EBB Stadium.
Two isolated moments of attacking quality, crucially either side of half-time, sealed a deserved win for Tranmere, who will now face Wolverhampton Wanderers on the first weekend of January while Kevin Dillon’s side contemplate what might have been. Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz, on his 50th appearance for The Shots, was perhaps at fault for both goals, but, in taking their chances, Rovers built upon a solid defensive display which successfully stifled a below-par Shots side. Substitute Oliver Bozanic scrambled an injury-time consolation goal but it was too little too late as Aldershot foundered on a resurgent Tranmere back four. Ian Thomas-Moore’s flashing angled volley flew through Jaimez-Ruiz’s grasp and then, brilliantly taking Logan’s deep cross on his instep, Gornell squeezed a tight shot past the goalkeeper at his near-post. Bozanic had a chance just one minute after replacing Straker, breaking through the defence to meet Donnelly’s deft touch, but stabbed the ball agonisingly wide of Luke Daniels’ post. Had that gone in, it could so easily have been a different story, but the occasion ended as damp as the Hampshire air as Aldershot failed to muster the required grandstand finish.