Chris Iwelumo's finishing proved the difference as City collected a hard-fought win at wet and windy Prenton Park.

The City striker opened the scoring in the first-half and then clinched the points with a second-half penalty.

Rovers equalised in-between through Alex Hay, but it was not enough to prevent City moving to within five points of Pontins League leaders Walsall.

On an awful night, City were first to show through on-loan Sebastian Svard. The Danish under-21 international, making his first appearance after his arrival from Arsenal, fired wide after half an hour.

Five minutes later Iwelumo made his mark when he advanced into the penalty area before firing home an angled drive.

Kris Commons went close with a fierce shot from 25 yards and although the home side hit the crossbar just before half-time City deserved their half-time lead after coping better with the swirling conditions.

They began the second-half much the stronger side, with Henry and Commons both shooting over.

Commons' withdrawal after taking a knock in a tackle on 55 minutes temporarily disrupted the team and Rovers cashed in when Hay beat Chris Sanna with a curling shot from 20 yards three minutes later.

But City regained the lead within three minutes when Ryan Hutchinson was tripped inside the 18-yard area and Iwelumo confidently slotted home his spot-kick.

Hay missed a late chance to level again but the Potters defence held on comfortably for a valuable victory.

City: Sanna, Smith, Keogh, Owen, Hutchinson, Denny, Henry, Svard (Cartwright 62), Commons (Warwick 55), Greenacre (Hall 75), Iwelumo. Sub (not used): Duggan.