Ronnie Moore's trip back to Boundary Park ended in disappointment as Rovers went down to a 3-1 defeat against his former club.

Oldham netted twice late in the first half and though Mike Jones pulled one back midway through the second half, the home side quickly added a third to seal the victory. 

There were two changes for Tranmere with Antony Kay missing out and Chris Greenacre dropping to the bench. Replacing the pair in the side were Ben Chorley and Calvin Zola, while Mike Jones was named among the five substitutes.

Rovers enjoyed some early possession deep in the Oldham half but neither Ian Moore nor Zola were able to make the most of it and the home side cleared the danger.

On seven minutes Rovers had the first chance of the match when Robbie Stockdale's cross was headed at goal by John Mullin and Latics keeper Mark Crossley had to palm behind for a corner.

Two minutes later Oldham's Chris Taylor was allowed to cut inside from the left wing and the midfielder fired a goalbound effort from 25 yards which forced Danny Coyne to push over the bar.

Zola almost latched on to a high pass from Sherriff on 15 minutes but the ball zipped along the surface to Crossley, while Chris Taylor tested Coyne once again at the other end.

Jennison Myrie-WIlliams shot just wide from the edge of the area on 16 minutes with Crossley rooted to the spot and Deane Smalley shot at Coyne from 20 yards as play quickly went from end to end in difficult conditions - the heavy rain and wind a familiar scene for Tranmere at Boundary Park.

Play then became increasingly scrappy with both sides wasting possessionbut the home side were handed a chance on 37 minutes when Ian Goodison fouled Lewis Allesandra inside the area, a challenge the centre back earned a yellow card for.

The Rovers captain appeared to pick up an injury at the same time and had to be carried off the pitch on a stretcher. He was replaced on the pitch by Jones, with Sherriff moving to centre back and Myrie-Williams on to the left side of midfield.

Neal Eardley eventually took the spot kick on 41 minutes and sent Coyne the wrong way to give Oldham the lead.

Moments later Moore shot wide from 12 yards as Rovers looked for a quick response, but the home side grabbed a second in first half injury time. A poor back pass from John Mullin allowed Alessandra to close down Coyne and the keeper's clearance hit Robbie Stockdale and rolled towards the goal line. Coyne was able to get a hand to keep it out but the ball then hit the post and bounced into the path of Taylor who had the simple job of tapping in from close range.

Jones shot at Crossley from outside the area in the second minute of injury time as Rovers went into the break two down.

The rain got even heavier at half time, leaving the four remaining Rovers subs completely soaked during their warm up.

Myrie-Williams shot wide with his right foot from outside the area on 48 minutes while Mullin fired high over the bar six minutes later from a Moore knock down.

Coyne saved Mark Allott's low drive on 54 minutes and soon after had to gather a curling shot from the former Chesterfield midfielder on the edge of his six yard box.

On 61 minutes Greenacre and Adnan Ahmed replaced Zola and Mullin but the pair couldn't make an immediate difference to Rovers' fortunes as Oldham continued to enjoy the majority of possession and territory.

However, on 70 minutes Rovers pulled one back. A long ball into the Oldham area from Greenacre allowed Jones to nip in and shoot low past Crossley for his first goal for the Club.

The comeback only looked on for six minutes. Leon Constantine broke free into the area and squared the ball to Alessandra who knocked in from close range to put Oldham 3-1 up.

Sherriff sent a 25-yard free kick into the arms of Crossley on 83 minutes, the closest Tranmere came to a second before the final whistle.

Referee: Andy Penn

Yellow cards: Goodison (38), Ahmed (80), Hazell (82), Andy Taylor (90+4)

Away attendance: 1,041