A TWO-goal blast from Tranmere just before half time sent Bury crashing out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at the area quarter-final stage.

A deflected free-kick from Max Power in the 43rd minute cancelled out Nathan Cameron’s opener before Danny Johnson tapped in a quick-fire second two minutes later.

Picking the ball out of his own net was virtually all Bury’s debutant goalkeeper Scott Loach had to do on an otherwise quiet night.

And striker Hallam Hope capped his return on loan from Everton with a lively second-half display, but was unable to stop Tranmere ending Bury’s run of nine straight victories on home turf. Almost all the goalmouth action of a sedate opening half was packed into the final 10 minutes.

Before then, all the home fans had to keep them warm was a couple of tempting crosses from strikers Danny Rose and Danny Nardiello.

Bury enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in those opening exchanges, but it took a positive run from centre-back Cameron to break the deadlock.

The 22-year-old defender started and finished the move, laying the ball off to Nicky Adams who found his run into the box with a lofted cross that Cameron side-footed home on the volley.

The Shakers were well worth their lead, but only held on to it for eight minutes as Max Power fired a bolt out of the blue, finding the bottom corner with a deflected 30-yard free-kick that Loach got his hand to but could not keep out.

Tranmere exploded into life just as quickly as the Bury backline imploded as Loach was called upon almost instantly to block a James Rowe shot.

But it was only a brief reprieve as the visitors opened up the Shakers again down their right and after Loach blocked a Rowe shot Johnson was on hand to tap in the rebound.

Rovers’ two-goal blast prompted an immediate reaction from Flitcroft, who made a double substitution at the break, sending on Hope and former Tranmere favourite Joe Thompson for front two Nardiello and Rose.

The substitutions got into their stride quickly from the kick off, Thompson just failing to clear Brezovan with an audacious chip.

It then took a well-timed challenge in the box by Marcus Ihiekwe to deny Hope a clear shooting chance after he was put through by Adams.

The Bury manager threw caution to the wind, making his final substitute just after the hour, throwing on another Everton loan striker, Courtney Duffus, for centre midfielder Andrew Tutte.

Adams whistled a shot just over, but the changes failed to dent Tranmere’s rearguard action as Micky Adams’ side comfortably settled into counter-attacking mode.

It took a jinking run by Danny Mayor to the heart of their defence to unsettle the Wirral outfit, but Hope’s drilled shot came back off the keeper’s legs and Thompson fired the rebound wide.

As the clock ticked down, Cameron’s far post header from an 85th-minute Adams corner forced Brezovan into a scrambled save and the Tranmere stopper was on hand again to make a point-blank save with his legs to deny Hope from six yards out.

BURY (3-4-1-2): Roach 6, Cameron 7, Mills 5, McNulty 5, Soares 6, Tutte 6, Etuhu 6, Mayor 7, Adams 7, Nardiello 6, Rose 6.

Subs: Hope 7 (for Nardiello 45), Joe Thompson 7 (for Rose 45), Duffus 6 (for Tutte 62). Not used: Hussey, Lainton.

TRANMERE (3-5-2): Brezovan; Ihiekwe, Josh Thompson, Holness; Holmes, Power, Rowe, Jennings, Ridehalgh; Baggie, Johnson.

Subs: King (for Baggie 79), Odejayi (for Johnson 79), Laird (for Rowe 79). Not used: Ramsbottom, Gumbs.

Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands).

Attendance: 1,842 (430 visiting).