Danny Higginbotham's wonder-strike wasn't enough as the Potters slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Tranmere Rovers.

Goals from Ian Goodison and Steven Davies put the League One side in control, before Higginbotham's rasper brought City back in to contention.

Tony Pulis handed all of his squad a taste of action in the Potters final pre-season game at Tranmere, with the season opener at Cardiff just over a week away.

Richard Cresswell and Stephen Wright made their first starts for the club, while Carl Hoefkens again missed out with a thigh injury.

Former striker Chris Greenacre lined up against the Potters for the first time since his move to the Rovers.

The match began and the Potters were first to test Tranmere's resolve, Lewis Buxton's cross was headed down by Jon Parkin and Mamady Sidibe attempted a speculative bicycle kick, which whistled just past the post.

Barely a minute later Ronnie Moore's side could have been ahead, but Calvin Zola headed tamely at Steve Simonsen from 5-yards.

Tranmere midfielder Paul McLaren then tried his luck from range, but his shot flew well over the bar.

The City keeper then had to be alert to save Chris Shuker's effort down at the left hand post.

Rory Delap's long throw then caused problems in the Tranmere 18-yard box, Cresswell rose highest but his header was comfortably saved by Welsh international Danny Coyne.

Former Rovers star Simonsen then miraculously parried Zola's point blank header over following Adnan Ahmed's pin-point cross.

Former City striker Chris Greenacre should have put the hosts ahead in the 35^th minute.

John Eustace's poor back pass was intercepted by the ex-Mansfield man but he flicked the ball straight in to the arms of Simonsen.

City's latest signing Cresswell again went close after heading Sidibe's astute cross inches wide.

Liam Lawrence went close for the Potters on the stroke of half time but his rasping shot drifted just wide of the right hand post.

With just one minute of the first half left, the League One side took the lead.

The City defence failed to clear Shuker's corner and Goodison's shot was deflected off Wright and in to the back of the net.

Tony Pulis' side could have fallen even further behind straight from the re-start, but Davies's powerful cross evaded everyone inside the penalty area.

Another ex-Tranmere star in City's ranks Clint Hill then rose unchallenged in the box, but headed the ball straight in to Coyne's hands.

Ricardo Fuller was brought on to replace Jon Parkin just before the hour mark, to link up again with former Preston team-mate Cresswell.

City found themselves two down just after the hour, when Davies stepped up and powerfully curled a 20-yard free-kick beyond Simonsen in to the right hand corner.

Two could have been made three just five minutes later. Zola nipped on to a clever through ball before knocking it past the advancing Simonsen, but he reacted well to gather from underneath the bar.

Jamaican international Fuller, then set off down the right flank before cutting in and firing his shot goalwards, which Coyne did well to save.

The match should have been sealed minutes later, when Greenacre found himself free in the 6-yard box, but he bike heeled into Simonsen's arms.

The Potters eventually got a goal with just 13 minutes remaining. Skipper Danny Higginbotham outshone Davies, and emphatically blasted his free kick in to the bottom corner from 30-yards out.

The impressive Davies them attempted a long range effort but Simonsen watched his shot fly just over the bar.

City pushed forward in the final stages but couldn't find an equaliser.