AXA-Sponsored FA Challenge Cup First Round KO 13.00
Tranmere
2-2
Cardiff
Stuart Barlow
7
Simon Haworth
62
FT: 2-2
(HT: 1-2)
James Collins
34
Graham Kavanagh
44
A goal from Simon Haworth kept Tranmere's FA Cup hopes alive as they battled back to earn a draw against Division Two high-flyers Cardiff.
Things did not look good for the Prenton Park outfit after Cardiff struck twice in quick succession to cancel out Stuart Barlow's early goal.
But to their credit, the home side produced a gritty response and Haworth's seventh goal of the season earned them a replay.
In a high-tempo opening period, the hosts began brightly and with only six minutes on the clock they forged ahead.
A piledriver from the edge of the box was hacked away for a corner by Spencer Prior and Barlow got himself on the end of Ryan Taylor's flag-kick to bundle the ball home from close range.
But gradually, Cardiff weathered the storm and they were back on level terms after 34 minutes when a corner from the left was flicked on by Peter Thorne and James Collins arrived to drill low into the net.
As half-time approached, Cardiff stepped up the pace and they took the lead when a bad foul by Sean Connelly on Andy Campbell gave them a free-kick.
Graham Kavanagh punished Tranmere to full effect as he curled home from 30 yards.
Tranmere, however, came out after the break in resilient mood and they gained their reward just past the hour mark when Haworth thundered home an angled drive from the edge of the box.
