FA Cup: Tranmere 5 Chichester City 1 (one) FT score

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Five Tranmere goals in the second half ended Chichester City's heroic FA Cup run. Chi are taking on a team who play five divisions higher than them in the FA Cup - and their players and fans are giving a great account of themselves. It was 0-0 at the interval and Chi were very good value for that scoreline. Both sides had chances, with Scott Jones early header just wide the best of the lot. Chi's fans are making all the noise and enjoying every minute - but Tranmere turned up the heat in the second half to go 3-0 up. Full updates from @stevebone1 on Twitter

For the first 20 minutes there was very little to choose between the teams and at times Chi were playing the more fluent football.

It was Chi who won the first corner - and Chi who had the first real chance, when Josh Clack did well to find room by the byline for a cross from the right and Scott Jones headed only inches wide.

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Jones fired another header too close to keeper Scott Davies and Clack, Gicu Iordache and Kaleem Haitham all caused problems for the home defence.

Tranmere hosted Chichester City in the second round of the cup / Picture: GettyTranmere hosted Chichester City in the second round of the cup / Picture: Getty
Tranmere hosted Chichester City in the second round of the cup / Picture: Getty

For Tranmere David Perkins and Kieron Morris both had decent efforts at goal thwarted by Chi limbs put in the way.

City's fans were in superb voice, making all the noise from the stand between Chi keeper Steve Mowthorpe, with the Rovers fans a little subdued, perhaps surprised by the way the City minnows were taking on their team.

The remainder of the first half was pretty open - but pretty even. City gave as good as they got and had just as much of the ball as the Super Whites.

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Corey Blackett-Taylor blazed over when he had only Steve Mowthorpe to beat and the keeper did brilliantly to tip over a close-range Rushian Hepburn-Murphy header.

At the other end Lloyd Rowlatt fired a low 22-yard shot just side and Iordache and Jones continued to work their socks off to unsettle the Rovers defence.

HT 0-0

Recap from pre-match

They are on Merseyside to take on League One Tranmere in the second round of the FA Cup - and players and fans are out to savour every moment.

Supporters gave the team and management a raucous welcome when they arrived at Prenton Park just after 1pm.

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Nearly 500 Chi fans are expected - well over the number they attract to home games.

Tranmere play five divisions above City, who have won through six qualifying rounds of the cup and had a first round bye to reach this stage for the first time in their history.

The Chi City players and coaching staff were straight out on to the lovely-looking Prenton Park pitch - bathed in sunshine on a cold and frosty day on the Wirral - after arriving as fans started making their way from the bars to their seats at the away end.

As the away end filled up it became obvious the City fans were going to make themselves heard and enjoy their day win, lose or draw.

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Here's how City line-up - the big news is that striker Scott Jones has decided not to go surfing and is in the XI. It's an attacking line-up with Kaleem Haitham, Gicu Iordache and Josh Clack the attack-minded trio who will be up to support Jones.

Chi City: Mowthorpe, Davidson, R Hutchings, Cody, Heath, Clack, Horncastle, Jones, Rowlatt, Haitham, Iordache. Subs - Bennetts, Axell, Peake, Wild, Dunn, Biggs, Ender.

City have won praise from Tranmere boss Micky Mellon for their run so far.

He says in today's programme the club 'deserve huge credit' for coming through six qualifying rounds' and for all the players have done for the club. But he adds ominously: "Of course we are fully focused on ending that run today and putting ourselves into the hat for the third round."

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The game was being shown live on BT Sport - something that earned City £75,000 - to add to the £82,000 prize money they have earned from getting through six rounds plus a first round bye.

City chairman Andy Bell was interviewed live pre-match by Lynsey Hipgrave as the broadcaster took the Chi City story into living rooms across the country.

Some messages of good luck came into us pre-match for Chi - here are a selection.

Steve Cornell-Davis - Play Up City, City Play Up!!! Come on you Lillywhites!!!!

Andi Saunders - Go City, bring it home

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Scott Slater - All the best Chichester I will be watching from @rocks1883 clubhouse

Mark Dunford - Good luck to @ChiCityFC today #FACup (I just want to appear in @stevebone1's live blog!)

We'll have updates here throughout the afternoon - follow @stevenbone1 on Twitter for more as well.

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