A goal in the fifth minute of injury time earned Oldham the win at Prenton Park.

With Rovers reverting to their familiar 4-4-2 home formation, there was just one change to the side that lost at Nottingham Forest, with Steve Jennings replaced by the fit-again Chris Shuker.

Oldham's Chris Taylor was first to shoot but his 20 yard effort rolled wide of goal and caused Danny Coyne no concern in the Tranmere goal. On five minutes Dean Smalley shot from a similar distance and this time a deflection forced Coyne into making a save.

Rovers' first real attack came on 12 minutes, and if it had resulted in a goal it would have been a contender for goal of the season. Chris Greenacre dropped off the attack to collect the ball wide on the left. He then played an inch perfect pass to Gareth Taylor who lobbed the ball over the defence back into the path of Greenacre who had continued his run forward. However, the striker had to control the ball on his chest which gave Stefan Stam enough time to recover and clear.

At the other end Neal Trotman hit the side netting with a header at the far post from a free kick, while Gary McDonald forced Coyne to palm away from 20 yards after the midfielder picked up a stray pass inside the Tranmere half.

On 31 minutes a low Kevin Cooper cross flew through the six yard box before any Rovers player could make contact, and Antony Kay headed over from a free kick soon after.

Robbie Stockdale combined with Greenacre to set Shuker up on 35 minutes, with the winger cutting in along the edge of the penalty area before forcing Marlon Beresford to save low at his near post with a left foot shot.

Ian Goodison headed straight at Beresford from close range from a McLaren free kick on 37 minutes, when an effort anywhere else would probably have beaten the keeper.

Greenacre forced Beresford into a decent save at his near post on 42 minutes with a powerful drive from wide on the right of the area, while the visitors hit the post a minute later, Craig Davies seeing his low shot tipped onto the woodwork by the fingertips of Coyne after the Latics broke quickly.

Three minutes into the second half Rovers were agonisingly close to taking the lead. A move involving Greenacre and Shuker saw the ball squared across the six yard box for Kay, but the midfielder couldn't make contact with his outstretched leg and the open goal was wasted.

On 50 minutes Oldham had their best chance yet. Neal Eardley cut inside to latch on to a pass from Andy Liddell and his low drive was blocked by Coyne. The ball fell to Chris Taylor six yards out but he could only put his shot past the post under pressure from Stockdale.

Shuker and Greenacre combined again on 55 minutes, with the former aiming a cross to the far post for Gareth Taylor, but he was beaten to the ball by Eardley who headed behind for a corner.

Eardley was quickly involved again at the other end when Oldham broke away. The Latics had a four on two advantage as they raced towards the Rovers goal, but Eardley's low shot was saved by the feet of Coyne.

Coyne saved well from Trotman's far post header at a corner on 61 minutes and the keeper did well to keep out Liddell's powerful strike soon after.

Jennings replaced Kay on 65 minutes and the midfielder soon set up a chance for Greenacre, but his shot was hit straight at Beresford.

It was now end to end, with both teams just lacking a cutting edge in front of goal. Mike Jones was brought on for Rovers in place of Cooper with 15 minutes left, the youngster taking up the right wing role with Shuker moving to the left.

In the first minute of injury time Lee Hughes was denied a shooting chance by an excellent challenge from Goodison, but just when it looked like a draw was a certainty, Oldham grabbed a winner. In the fifth minute of injury time Davies met a cross from the right in the middle of the area and headed past Coyne.