Crewe Alexandra 1-4 Oldham Athletic
Stu Vose at the Alexandra Stadium

Four-star Latics wrapped up the 2007/08 campaign with a comprehensive demolition of sorry Crewe.

John Sheridan's men didn't look back after Deane Smalley's early goal and were in cruise control after Neal Eardley added a super second.

Latics pressed home their superiority with further goals from Eardley and the departing Gary McDonald.

Even Steve Jones' late reply couldn't dampen the spirits of the 1,200 travelling fans who partied all afternoon in the May sunshine.

Sheridan urged his side not to let up despite having nothing to play for, while Crewe were nervously looking over their shoulders at Cheltenham and Bournemouth.

Latics burst out of the blocks and set the tone for the afternoon when Smalley grabbed his second goal in as many games just five minutes in.

Crewe midfielder Kenny Lunt had a big hand in the opening, playing a pass straight into the youngster's path when he had multiple chances to clear.

But Smalley didn't need asking twice when the chance presented itself, striding forward before smashing a low shot under the diving Ben Williams from eight yards.

McDonald came close when he flashed a cross-shot just past the far post, but Crewe hit back on the break and Mark Crossley was forced into a smart save to keep out Nicky Maynard.

The save proved crucial as Athletic - buoyed by the early breakthrough and looking solid at the back - recovered and began to pile forward in numbers.

Lewis Alessandra and Mark Allott both fired wide while Eardley powered an effort just over the bar.

But Crewe almost replied as Crossley tipped away Billy Jones' free kick before turning Lunt's effort away with his legs with the midfielder clean through.

However it was Latics who struck again just after the half-hour when Eardley latched onto Alessandra's clever pass, burst between two defenders and rifled a left-footed effort into the top corner.

It could have been three just before the break when Alessandra just couldn't break beyond his marker to meet Smalley's inviting low cross from the right.

Nicky Maynard came close for the hosts before the whistle, firing over from a useful position on the edge of the box after collecting Chris Taylor's misdirected pass.

Athletic kept up the almost relentless pressure in the second period, coming close through Eardley and Smalley - the latter denied by a super diving save from Williams.

But the Crewe keeper was left helpless when Eardley conjured up a moment of magic to really kick-start the party.

Allott slipped the ball to the Wales international 25 yards from goal, and Eardley nestled an exquisite effort well out of the helpless keeper's reach.

And it was four when a cross fell kindly for McDonald, whose left-footed shot on the turn nicked off a diving defender and dropped into the back of the net.

Eardley almost had a hat-trick when he let fly with a powerful drive from 20 yards, but Williams beat the effort to safety.

Substitute goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell was introduced in the final stages when Mark Crossley was replaced as a precaution after picking up a slight injury.

He was hardly troubled before on-loan striker Steve Jones found some space behind the visiting defence to slot home an angled effort from ten yards out.

But it was scant consolation for the Railwaymen, who nearly conceded a fifth goal when Williams made a fine diving save to keep out another testing effort from Eardley.

Results elsewhere confirmed Crewe's League One place for next season - but it was Athletic doing most of the celebrating after rounding off the season with a fine win.

Att: 6,786 (1,203 away)