Substitute Cameron Norman's brace secured Tranmere all three points away to struggling Harrogate.
Norman, who was only introduced in the 70th minute because of an injury to fellow defender Jordan Turnbull, fired in from 25 yards just three minutes after coming on and then settled the outcome with a stoppage-time free-kick.
His brace condemned Harrogate to a 14th game without a victory and a seventh consecutive home defeat – the last six without scoring.
Tranmere had gone closest to opening the first-half scoring, with home goalkeeper James Belshaw fumbling Ethan Bristow's left-wing cross onto his own crossbar before eventually gathering.
Turnbull was flagged offside for tapping in on the goal-line as Kristian Dennis' near-post header from Richie Smallwood's corner looked destined to find the net.
After the break, Belshaw demonstrated smart reflexes to deny Joe Ironside, before Jack Muldoon squandered a glorious chance at the other end, firing wide from seven yards with the goal at his mercy.
Within two minutes, Norman punished Muldoon's profligacy by picking up possession in the Harrogate half and striding forward before unleashing a 25-yard thunderbolt beyond Belshaw.
After Bryn Morris was penalised for a foul 20 yards from goal in the first minute of stoppage time, Belshaw could only then help Norman's curling free-kick into his bottom-left corner.
Josh Davison also struck an upright for the visitors with almost the final kick.
Report supplied by PA Media.
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