Stockport County0-0Tranmere Rovers

Tranmere Rovers held Stockport County to a goalless draw at Edgeley Park in EFL Trophy Northern Group E, but lost the shootout 4-3. Coniah Boyce-Clarke saved one Stockport penalty to give Rovers a late chance; Luca Ashby-Hammond's earlier saves from Ryan Watson and Sam Mann ultimately proved decisive.
Boyce-Clarke was involved early, turning away Ethan Ennis's seventh-minute effort from outside the box. Tranmere responded almost immediately, though David Kamara fired high and wide. Olly Scott then had a shot blocked, and Charlie Veevers tested Ashby-Hammond from distance as both sides found openings in the first quarter-hour. Rovers had lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Courtney Baker-Richardson leading the attack.
Clear chances remained scarce before the break. Veevers had another effort blocked after combining with Baker-Richardson, while Boyce-Clarke saved from Ennis again in the 42nd minute. A Bruno Cina shot was blocked in the same passage of play. Stockport's Oliver Norwood tried his luck from more than 35 yards in first-half added time but missed the target, leaving the teams level at the interval.
Stockport made four changes at half-time, introducing Oliver Huddleston, Lewis Bate, Ryan Glover and Mamadou Jobe. Tranmere made their first changes shortly afterwards: Sam Mann replaced Baker-Richardson and James Plant came on for Lee O'Connor. Four minutes after Mann's arrival, Plant crossed for him to head from close range, but Ashby-Hammond saved. Veevers went close in the same minute, sending a left-footed shot just wide.
Plant continued to create chances for Rovers. He set up Kamara on a break in the 74th minute, but the forward shot over from the centre of the area. Two minutes later, another Plant cross found Mann, whose effort was blocked. Jacob Slater had also replaced Olly Scott as Tranmere sought a way through. At the other end, Huddleston sent a direct free-kick over the bar, and Stockport were forced into another change when Richard Ilara went off injured. Jacob Maher replaced him in the 68th minute. The visitors had chances to settle the tie in normal time, yet could not find a finish.
Stockport threatened late on. Boyce-Clarke saved Cina's header in the 83rd minute, then stopped efforts from Huddleston and Che Gardner in quick succession. George Nevett replaced Jordan Turnbull for the closing stages, and his pass gave Kamara one more opening in stoppage time. Kamara's shot went narrowly wide, and 90 minutes ended without a goal.
The shootout began badly for Tranmere when Ashby-Hammond saved Watson's opening kick. Nevett scored Rovers' next penalty, but Ashby-Hammond then denied Mann, allowing Stockport to move 3-1 ahead. Patrick Brough converted before Boyce-Clarke saved Gardner's kick. Veevers brought Tranmere level at 3-3, only for Jobe to score Stockport's final penalty and seal the shootout win.
Rovers had matched Stockport through a goalless 90 minutes and fought back into the shootout. Their missed chances in open play and two saved penalties left them narrowly beaten, despite Boyce-Clarke's contribution at both ends of the contest. The official score remains 0-0 after regulation time, with Stockport taking the EFL Trophy shootout 4-3.