Moore heartbreak at Trophy defeat

After two cup exits in a week, Ronnie Moore must concentrate on the league

Tranmere Rovers manager Ronnie Moore was distraught at the nature of his side's 2-1 Johnstone's Paint Trophy defeat at Scunthorpe on Tuesday night.

A John Johnson own goal, deep into injury time, gave the hosts victory in the northern area semi-final.

Scunthorpe had led through a Ben May header before Ian Moore equalised.

"I'm gutted," Moore told BBC Radio Merseyside. "To be so close is cruel, is hard to take and it's hard to talk about, to be honest."

With the tie heading towards a penalty shoot-out against the League One high fliers at Glanford Park, Johnson conceded a free-kick, which when taken, he then deflected into his own goal.

Moore found it hard to defend the 20-year-old, on-loan Middlesbrough defender, adding: "It's naive isn't it?

"It's a young kid bang on full-time. He was lucky he stayed on to be honest. It might have helped us if the ref had sent him off."

Rovers' Trophy exit followed their FA Cup second round replay defeat at home to Peterborough United last Tuesday night when they also suffered the pain of conceding a 90th minute goal - Aaron McLean's equaliser, prior to Posh's extra-time winner.