Harriers suffered another defeat to leave their time in the National League hanging by a thread.

Twelve points from safety and and with just eighteen points to play for, Harriers are potentially two games from relegation, two more defeats would see them relegated although the next three games are against teams in the four immediately above them.

Illness in the camp meant that Harriers were without the influential Ben Whitfield, and Gurjit Singh, but were able to brinig Elton Ngwatala back into the starting line-up after injury and Jordan Tunnicliffe who was making his first appearance since mid-October.

A lively opening to the game saw chances at both ends of the pitch; Lewis Kinsella's free-kick was headed at Rovers keeper Scott Davies by Kelvin Langmead, who was playing in attack, and from the swift Tranmere counter-attack the impressive James Norwood shooting straight at Max O'Leary.

Rovers took the lead on 15 minutes when a long ball over the top of the Harriers defence found Norwood in the penalty area who had enough time to control, turn, and sweep the ball past O'Leary.

After the visitors failed to clear a Harriers corner properly Kinsella went close with a long range shot that went over the bar.  At the end of the half Gary Taylor-Fletcher got into the penalty area on the left, his attempt to square the ball was parried by O'Leary and the rest of the Harriers defence managed to scramble the ball to safety.

Harriers huffed-and-puffed to get back into the game after the interval; Tranmere were always able to keep them at arm's length and looking likely to be able to increase their lead if required.

The always dangerous Norwood cause Harriers numerous problems; he had another shot that was parried and when the ball rebounded off him Jared Hodgkiss was on hand to clear off the line.  In the closing minutes hee broke into the Harriers penalty area again but saw his shot saved by O'Leary.

In stoppage time Tranmere wrapped up the game with Norwood's second goal, the big striker forcing his way into the penalty area on the left before tucking his shot inside the far post.