Ebbsfleet’s promotion hopes were finally ended by Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.

They arrived at Prenton Park unbeaten in seven away matches and buoyant after Wednesday’s penalty shootout win at Aldershot.

But despite leading twice, they but were beaten by extra-time strikes from James Norwood and Larnell Cole before captain Dave Winfield was shown a straight red card.

Fleet's players were devastated at the end but they can go into the summer with their heads held high after a fantastic first season back in the National League.

The visitors were unchanged from Wednesday's epic eliminator win at Aldershot, while Tranmere - playing their first game since Saturday - brought in Adam Buxton for Jay Harris.

A defeaning noise greeted the sides when they walked out of the tunnel and Rovers, as you'd expect, came flying out of the traps.

Nathan Ashmore gathered an early Cole cross and Winfield then stepped in to mop up when Josh Ginnelly got away from Jack Connors down the Tranmere right.

The early pressure continued and Ashmore pulled off two good saves to deny Andy Cook and Norwood, the latter a superb save with his foot.

Cook then took up a dangerous position on the edge of the box and got a shot away but Lawrie Wilson was there to charge it down.

Gradually the visitors began to gain a foothold and Corey Whitely powered a low shot just wide after Wilson's long throw was only half-cleared.

There was a hold-up when Ashmore alerted the referee to objects being thrown his way from the huge Kop End behind his goal.

Peter Wright came over to speak to his fourth official and when play restarted, Ebbsfleet scored.

Jack Powell crossed from the right and Coulson got up well to glance a header across goalkeeper Scott Davies into the far corner.

Fleet held their shape well following the goal and the home fans grew increasingly frustrated.

More objects were thrown onto the pitch and following another conversation between the officials, it was announced that Tranmere would forfeit the match if the behaviour continued.

Ebbsfleet's best passing move of the first half saw Powell's cross pushed out by Davies although Danny Kedwell could only hook the loose ball wide.

The visitors survived an almighty scramble when Cook and Cole both had efforts bravely blocked before Cook lashed a shot over.

But with 33 minutes on the clock, Liam Ridehalgh fed Norwood on the left-hand side and he picked out the bottom corner with a fine strike.

Coulson was substituted immediately after the equaliser, with Myles Weston sent on.

Fleet had to see off more pressure late in the first half as Tranmere, buoyed by the goal, poured forward.

Ashmore did well to push Ginnelly's low shot behind after it took a nick off Cook and a wicked cross flashed right through the Ebbsfleet box with no-one able to get a touch.

Kenny Clark did brilliantly to cut out Ginnelly's low delivery at the start of the second half but on 52 minutes Fleet retook the lead.

Whitely closed down Davies and when his attempted clearance ricocheted into Weston's path, the winger finished calmly into an open goal.

But the lead only lasted four minutes. Ginnelly lashed a great shot beyond Ashmore and suddenly the ground was rocking again.

Fleet had to steady the ship and as the travelling fans began to make themselves heard, Ashmore held Norwood's long shot.

The home fans were screaming for a penalty moments later when Rovers broke and played in Ollie Norburn but Ashmore had managed to get to the ball first.

Ebbsfleet were hanging in there now and Cook sent a header just wide before Powell was replaced by Marvin McCoy.

With the pressure mounting on the Fleet goal, Connors threw himself in front of a shot and Ashmore needed treatment after coming to claim a cross.

Ebbsfleet were now seeing precious little of the ball and although Whitely managed to turn and get a shot away, it was well wide.

Back came Tranmere and when Ashmore parried Norburn's cross-shot, it took a magnificent clearing header from Winfield to clear the danger.

But Ebbsfleet managed the latter stages of the 90 minutes superbly, limiting Rovers to half-chances and shots from distance.

Cook saw a shot deflect behind at the start of extra time but a moment of magic gave Tranmere the lead for the first time on 102 minutes.

Norwood hit a free-kick from the left-hand side which flew past Ashmore and went in off the far post.

It was game over when Cole's shot flew high beyond Ashmore after the change of ends and there were ugly scenes moments later.

Great skill from Norwood got him clear down the middle and Winfield's recovery tackle saved a certain goal.

But when Jay Harris came flying in and caught Winfield late, the centre-half put him on the floor and was sent off.

The bad feeling continued as Winfield left the field, with Rovers skipper Steve McNulty in his ear every step of the way. Fleet coach Aaron McLean was sent to the stands for his role in the subsequent touchline bust-up which also saw a member of Tranmere's staff ordered off.

Norwood and Cole went close to making it 5-2 at the death with Ebbsfleet now a beaten side.

But the home supporters stood to applaud them off the pitch and what a fitting tribute that was.

Tranmere: Davies, Buxton (Monthe 82mins), Ridehalgh, Sutton, McNulty, Cook, Norwood, Norburn, Ginnelly (Harris 96mins), Hughes, Cole. Subs not used: Taylor, Mangan, Dunn.

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Wilson, Winfield, Clark, Connors, Rance, Drury, Whitely, Powell (McCoy 70mins), Coulson (Weston 33mins), Kedwell. Subs not used: Miles, Wabo, Bush.

Attendance: 8,898 (348 away).