Oldham were knocked out of the Leasing.com Trophy at the group stage as Fleetwood recorded a comfortable and impressive 5-2 victory to take second place.
Dino Maamria handed 15-year-old striker Zak Emmerson his first start in a Latics shirt whilst giving Chris McCann the armband again as he fielded a strong team despite the injuries to a few of his squad.
Whilst Joey Barton made eight changes to his team, giving Peter Clarke the captaincy in his first game against Oldham since leaving in the summer.
In a ‘winner takes all’ tie it was the Cod Army who came out of the traps scoring three goals in 13 minutes with Fleetwood dominating the opening stages.
The first goal came from Peter Clarke who comfortably headed in his effort, as he was unchallenged in the area as the corner drifted in from the right.
The second came with the next attack as Morris tapped in from close range, entering the box and running onto the pass that was placed perfectly from the right.
The crowd at the Highbury Stadium would have another goal to celebrate after De la Paz prevented Madden with an instinctive save.
Jack Sowerby was given the ball on the edge of the box, but before a challenge came in he placed a powerful effort across goal that flew into the bottom corner.
With things not looking good for Latics, Jonny Smith who was in fine form, added his third of the season with a superb strike on the 25th minute mark.
Receiving the ball in space on his left wing, the on-loan winger didn’t think twice before unleashing a shot that flew in over the head of Fleetwood keeper Cairns.
After the frantic start the game calmed down before Barton’s side added a fourth.
Losing the ball in midfield, Oldham were caught out with a quick attack by the hosts. Madden threaded a superb pass into the path of Wes Burns who slotted it in underneath the body of De la Paz.
The opening 45 ended with Iacovitti’s effort being tipped over the crossbar.
As a result two changes were made at the interval with Morais and Eagles making way for Maouche and Wilson.
Wilson was immediately introduced into the action, getting to the by-line he cannoned his shot against the near post.
But Fleetwood would add a fifth six minutes in. The prolific striker Paddy Madden was given the ball on the right, accepting the offer and placing it in the goal, as the Latics defence couldn’t stop the pass across inside the area.
As Town looked for a sixth, Dempsey first skimmed the crossbar from a short corner routine on the hour mark before De la Paz prevented Morris with a great one-on-one double save.
The hosts kept coming forwards but wasted a number of chances, the most notable coming through Madden who only from a few yards out headed wide at the back post unmarked on 68 minutes.
Oldham would get their second of the evening with twenty minutes remaining. Substitute Azankpo bundled the ball over the line after a scramble in the area saw Iacovitti’s blocked shot fall into the path of the Benin internationals path.
The Latics keeper would pull off another save in the closing stages as Burns’ effort was rifled into the body of Zeus who parried the effort away.
Fleetwood Town: Cairns, Andrew, Clarke (C), Burns, Dempsey (69' Matete), Morris (73' Hayes), Dunne, Southam-Hales, Rossiter, Madden (69' Garner), Sowerby.
Oldham Athletic: De la Paz, Mills, Iacovitti, Stott, Morais (45' Maouche), Sylla, McCann (C), Smith, Eagles (45' Eagles), Hamer, Emmerson (65' Azankpo).
Referee: Andy Haines