A late fightback and two goals in the dying minutes were not enough to prevent the reserves slipping to only their second Pontins League home defeat of the season.

Tranmere raced into a three-goal lead thanks to a first-half header from Paul Robinson and second-half strikes from Alex Hay and Steve Jennings.

But City youngster Jay Denny and triallist Andrew Wright netted to ensure a tight end to a very open encounter.

Chris Dagnall spurned two early chances for the visitors, failing to test Ben Foster with either, while at the other end Andy Wilkinson's goalbound effort deflected to safety off defender Sean Connelly.

Wright saw a 25-yard shot sail over and Wayne Teague and Leon Fisher both tested `keeper Phil Palethorpe.

Foster was forced into action twice on the half-hour mark, denying Ryan Taylor from a free-kick and saving Robinson's low drive.

But the deadlock was broken shortly after by Robinson, who dived to head home Steve Jennings' cross.

The lead was doubled on 57 minutes when Hay cut in from the left and curled his shot past substitute 'keeper Chris Sanna - replacing the injured Foster - from 16 yards.

Clint Hill's quickly-taken free-kick set up Jay Lucas but he shot straight at Palethorpe, who also denied Teague before Rovers made it 3-0 with a fine solo effort from Jennings.

Hay hit the post before City reduced the arrears when Jermaine Palmer's shot was beaten out by Palethorpe and Denny reacted first to tuck home the rebound.

Within sixty seconds Wright's diagonal free-kick from just outside the penalty area eluded everyone and crept inside the far post.

City: Foster (Sanna 45), Wilkinson (Smith 58), Hill,  Keogh, Wright, Teague,  Denny, Palmer, Lucas, Fisher (Patterson 66). Subs: Jones, Musgrove.

Mark Bowering