TRANMERE ROVERS 2, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0
It was a black day in every sense as Oldham Athletic lost at Tranmere Rovers in their last away game as an EFL club.
Fans turned up at Prenton Park dressed in black to mark the passing of the club which has lost its league status after 115 years.
And there was little to cheer for already relegated Latics who suffered a fifth straight league loss as they are bowing out with a whimper.
Josh Hawkes and Kane Hemmings scored either side of half time as John Sheridan’s much-changed side suffered another disappointing afternoon on the road.
With one eye no doubt on next season, Sheridan made five changes from the previous weekend, including starts for Harry Vaughan, Will Sutton and Jayson Leutwiler.
Tranmere still have chance an outside of reaching the play-offs but the first half, for large parts, was nondescript.
Chances for Latics were scarce, Sutton heading over from Jack Stobbs’ free kick, while the winger also had a shot blocked by Peter Clarke after cutting in from the left.
Sam Hart also delivered a cross from the same flank to Davis Keillor-Dunn only for goalkeeper Joe Murphy to reach it first.
Hawkes put Tranmere in front midway through the first half, sending a long-range shot into the bottom left-hand corner.
Hemmings should have given the home side the lead earlier but sent his shot straight at Leutwiler when clean through on goal.
The striker also missed a great chance after half-time, clearing the crossbar with the goal gaping. He received the ball when unmarked in the area after Kyle Jameson had done well with an initial challenge on Hawkes.
Hemmings was rewarded with a goal just after the hour, firing past Leutwiler.
Although Latics saw more of the ball as the second half progressed after three substitutions, clear chances were difficult to come by.
Jameson headed wide from Nicky Adams’ free kick while Callum Whelan had a chance and the closest the visitors came was when Stobbs drilled a low shot towards the bottom right corner only to be denied by Murphy at full stretch.
Oldham Athletic: Leutwiler, Clarke, Hart, Keillor-Dunn, Jameson, Stobbs, Hunt (Whelan 54), Missilou (Adams 63), Luamba, Sutton, Vaughan (Hope 54). Subs (not used): Southerington, Couto, Hopcutt, Da Silva.
Goals: Hawkes (27), Hemmings (62) for Tranmere Rovers.
Attendance: 8,008