Goals from Sonny Coyne and Corey Nuttall proved decisive as Wanderers reached the FA Youth Cup third round with a clinical 2-0 victory away at Tranmere Rovers on Wednesday night.
Coyne’s early opener sent Wanderers on their way before Nuttall’s second-half goal sealed progression for Julian Darby’s youngsters at Prenton Park.
Wanderers were ahead within five minutes on the Wirral after Coyne raced onto Jack Sixsmith’s pinpoint lofted pass to dink his left-footed strike over Rovers’ goalkeeper Charlie Jones.
Two minutes after going in front, Wanderers had some defending to do as captain Sam O’Neill was forced to clear off the line after Sam Mann lobbed goalkeeper Luke Lomax.
Jack Edwards then had an opportunity for the hosts, however Lucas Kirkpatrick did well to throw himself in the way.
On the half-hour mark, Corey Thomas did well to pull-back a cross at the back post for Kirkpatrick to hit first-time from the edge of the box, which went over Jones’ crossbar.
Darby was forced to make an early change with 27 minutes played when Tomi Adesina was forced off through injury, with Alfie Healey replacing him.
Wanderers almost increased their lead with 10 minutes of the half left, when Toby Ritchie weaved into space and struck a fierce right-effort from distance which crept just wide of Jones’ far post.
At the other end, Mann had another chance for Rovers, but his attempt at Lomax’s goal went off target.
O’Neill then delivered a superb tackle on Mann to preserve Wanderers’ lead.
Goalscorer Coyne had to be substituted after a heavy challenge. Daniel Ogboru replaced his fellow forward as Wanderers went into the interval leading.
Wanderers started the second-half on the front foot and forced early pressure on Rovers when O’Neill’s long-throw into the box was headed behind for a corner.
The resulting set-piece was met by Joe Lamb at the back post, who saw his close-range header palmed back out by Jones, with the goalmouth scramble eventually being cleared to safety.
Ritchie then sent a powerful right-footed shot towards goal from inside the box, with Jones pushing the attempt over the crossbar for a corner.
Wanderers’ second goal of the night came from Nuttall, who profited from a loose ball in a crowded box to arrow his strike into the far corner beyond Jones.
As the cup tie entered its final 20 minutes, Ritchie’s free-kick from the edge of the box was superbly saved by Jones, as the visitors pushed for a third.
Ritchie almost found Wanderers’ third in audacious fashion when he attempted to lob Jones from inside his own half, with the ball clipping the top of the crossbar and bouncing over.
Tranmere then went close on two occasions through Mann, who side-footed Rui Clarke-Phillips’ cross wide prior to volley deflecting narrowly wide of Lomax’s post.
Late on, Ritchie’s shot from 20-yards crashed off the post, with Nuttall’s follow-up strike blocked.
Wanderers navigated the four minutes of added time to set up a home tie against Leicester City at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
Wanderers: Lomax, Sixsmith, O’Neill ©, Lamb, Adesina (Healey 27), Mawditt, Kirkpatrick (Hopkinson 86), Thomas (Kendrick 68), Nuttall (Best 88), Ritchie, Coyne (Ogboru 44)
Subs not used: Shillinglaw, Baucutt