Vaz-Te latched onto El-Hadji Diouf's pass to fire a low shot past former Welsh international Danny Coyne just as the game looked as if it would be ending honours even.

Bolton welcomed back a number of their first team regulars including Kevin Nolan, Abdoulaye Meite and Kevin Davies but there was once again no place for last seasons top scorer Nicolas Anelka.

In Anelka's absence recent signing Heidar Helguson played alongside Davies in the Wanderers attack for his second game since moving from Premiership rivals Fulham earlier in the month.

The game was delayed by ten minutes due to traffic problems around the ground but thankfully this didn't seem to matter too much as the sunshine beamed down on Prenton Park.

Within the first five minutes Tranmere had an effort on the Wanderers goal. A long crossfield ball from Chris Shuker picked out youngster Steven Davies and his effort from the edge of the box just flashed wide.

A few minutes later another Davies was in the thick of the action, this time Bolton's Kevin Davies crossing the ball in for strike partner Helguson but the Icelander couldnt compose himself for the shot.

Full back Robbie Stockdale and midfielder Paul McLaren fired wide from distance for the Merseysiders but their clearest shot on goal came on the quarter hour mark when former Manchester City junior Chris Shuker fired his free kick just inches off target.

In the early stages Rovers where giving a good account of themselves and it was hard to recognise that two divisions seperated the sides.

Calvin Zola wriggled free of his marker Abdoulaye Meite in the midway point of the first half but African front man could not force Jussi Jaaskelainen into making a save.

Tranmere's Davies then had a close range effort go wide seconds after referee Ken Evans had waved away a half hearted penalty appeal from the hosts claiming Bolton centre back Gerald Cid had handled Chris Greenacre's shot with his arm.

With thirty minutes gone Senegalese international El-Hadji Diouf had the Wanderers first shot of the half when he turned a cross over the crossbar of veteran keeper Danny Coyne.

Jlloyd Samuel also fired over for the visitors after being put in a shooting position by Kevin Davies, but the best chance of the first period by far came when the latter smashed his volley against the upright with the half time interval fast approaching.

Both sides made crucial interventions in the opening moments of the second half with Tranmere's Shuker being blocked by the Wanderers defence and Bolton skipper Kevin Nolan foiled by Australian full back Shane Cansdell-Sherriff.

On the hour Mikel Alonso was brought on in place of Gavin McCann for his Trotters debut and there was also an appearance for James Sinclair in place of the tiring Helguson.

Tranmere boss Ronnie Moore also made a quadruple change with experienced duo John Mullin and Gareth Taylor coming off the bench to take the place of Antony Kay and Zola.

The rest of the changeovers saw former MK Dons defender Ben Chorley replace Steven Jennings and teenager Craig Curran come on for Greenacre.

Diouf and Nolan hit their shots off target for Bolton in the final twenty minutes or so but the killer goal finally came on 83 minutes when Vaz-Te netted his first goal in over a year with a confident strike past Coyne.

Bolton will now take on Espanyol at the Reebok Stadium in the coming week as well as travel down to Championship side Colchester United a week today to complete their pre-season programme.

BOLTON WANDERERS: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nicky Hunt (Danny Guthrie), Abdoulaye Meite, Gerald Cid, Jlloyd Samuel, El-Hadji Diouf, Kevin Nolan, Gavin McCann (Mikel Alonso), Ricardo Vaz-Te, Kevin Davies (Scott Jamieson), Heidar Helguson (James Sinclair)

Subs Not Used: Ian Walker, Lubomir Michalik, Zoltan Harsanyi

TRANMERE ROVERS: Danny Coyne, Robbie Stockdale, Antony Kay (Ben Chorley), Ian Goodison, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Chris Shuker, Paul McLaren (Adnan Ahmed), Steven Jennings (John Mullin), Steven Davies, Calvin Zola (Craig Curran), Chris Greenacre (Gareth Taylor)

Subs Not Used: Carl Tremarco, Paul Henry, Mike Jones, John Achterberg, Danny Holmes, Michael Johnston

Attendance:

TBC

Referee:

Ken Evans

Booked

Helguson (Bolton)

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