Matchwinner David Bird dedicated the finest goal of his career to his newborn daughter Jessica Lilley as Cheltenham Town defeated play-off chasing Tranmere Rovers 1-0 at last night.

Bird's stunning volley in the third minute secured the Robins' second win in four days and although they remain at the foot of the League One table, they have given themselves a glimmer of hope of pulling off the most remarkable of escapes.

The acting skipper's wife Nikki gave birth to their second daughter 24 hours earlier and Bird capped a memorable week by claiming the only goal.

"My wife and our little girl are both fine so everything is really good and it's all been topped off with the winning goal," Bird said.

Bird's first goal of the campaign was a stunning volley from 20 yards after a corner was cleared to him and he flicked the ball up with his right, taking it away from a defender and then crashed it into the top corner with his left foot. He said: "I'd say it was the best goal of my career. The first touch bobbled up and then I got it over to my left foot and I couldn't have hit it any better.

"The only place I could have scored was where it went as there were a lot of bodies in the way.

"It's nice to get on the score sheet because I had a dodgy one at Northampton on the opening day of the season that could have been mine and was given as an own goal, but nobody can take this one away from me."

Manager Martin Allen described the goal as "awesome" and paid tribute to Bird's influence since being handed the armband for the past two games.

"We gave him (Bird) a round of applause in the dressing room because that goal really is up there with the very best," he said. "The composure to hit a volley like that was terrific and you could see the pleasure it gave everyone because the place was buzzing.

"David has led the team and won us the game and it was an awesome moment and an awesome goal, which has to be goal of the week."