HARTLEPOOL United were last night blown out of the LDV Vans Trophy by Second Division Tranmere Rovers.

A Pool team - which was more like a reserves side - were never able to come to terms with Rovers and were defeated for the second time this season by the Birkenhead outfit.

Chris Turner's Third Division table-toppers did not name one player in the starting line-up last night who started the game with Wrexham on Saturday.

And they paid the price with Tranmere running out comfortable 5-0 winners at a wind-swept Prenton Park.

Turner made his intentions for the competition quite clear and he used the clash to hand experience to four of his young guns.

Promising goalkeeper Jim Provett and 18-year-old midfielders Tony Sweeney and Colin McKenzie were given the chance to impress along with left winger Matty Robson.

In complete contrast, Tranmere boss Ray Mathias fielded his strongest side available.

Mathias was bidding to boost confidence ahead of their League clash with Cardiff on Saturday after they had lost five of their previous seven matches and the aim was successfully achieved.

Tranmere started the better of the two and could have gone ahead early on when Ryan Taylor got in front of defender James Sharp to direct a Gareth Roberts cross straight into the arms of debutant Provett.

Pool's Adam Boyd should have done better when he fired over from close range, but otherwise the chances fell to the hosts.

And after Gary Jones - not the former Victoria Park frontman - had a dipping 30-yard effort fly just over the bar, Mathias' men took the lead on 32 minutes.

It came when Danny Harrison picked up the ball 25 yards out and unleashed an unstoppable drive into Provett's net.

Shortly before half-time Tranmere made it two when Jones met a Taylor corner - the first of the match - to head in off the underside of the bar.

Pool could have got one back when Robson burst down the line, but his low cross was just too fast for Kevin Henderson to turn goalwards.

But then Roberts skipped around Jon Bass and struck a low left-foot drive beyond Provett for number three after 68 minutes, which was followed seven minutes later by Jones' second.

And, to rub salt into the Pool second-string's wounds, the lively Taylor ran clear to grab the fifth.

But at least now Turner will be able to quote the old favourite: 'Now we can concentrate on the League!'

Tranmere Rovers 5 - 0 Hartlepool United

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