Tranmere Rovers dished out a reminder why they are still not giving up on automatic promotion and reminded Peterborough United why relegation is becoming an increasing possibility as Brian Little's men went goal-crazy at Prenton Park beating a below par Posh side 5-0.

Posh won the first corner kick of the game within the first 60 seconds at Prenton Park, but the set-piece was easily cleared by Jackson. A few long throws from Andy Legg caused a bit of panic in the Tranmere defence before Tyler did well to not use his hands as he dashed out of the area to stop Whitmore from getting on the end of a long punt forward.

The first shot of the game came from Taylor on 10 minutes, but his fierce drive went high into the stand behind Tyler's goal. Achterberg was forced into the first save of the evening moments later as a floating corner was headed goalwards by Arber, with the shot-stopper tipping the effort over the bar.

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Woodhouse saw a shot deflect wide for a corner kick after Arber did well at the back-post as Posh continued to dominate. However, it was the home side who opened the scoring just after the quarter hour mark as a long ball forward was won in the air by Hume and HALL ran on, held off the challenge of Arber and finished coolly past Tyler.

Hume then lashed a shot wide from 25-yards as the hosts looked to get a second goal. At the other end, a speculative volley from Legg was easily gathered by Achterberg, but it was Tranmere who were the more dangerous side, surprisingly their front two of Whitmore and Hume, although not the biggest, were winning most of the aerial battles.

It was 2-0 to the hosts on 28 minutes as Posh allowed Tranmere to keep the ball in the final third without any pressure on the ball and when the cross came into the box from Hall, HUME was given plenty of time to pick his spot past the despairing dive of Tyler.

Iain Hume doubles the lead for Tranmere

Tyler made a smart stop to deny Whitmore on the stroke of half-time after a good ball from Rankine picked him out as Tranmere came close to a third before the interval. In fact they did get that third goal in the last few seconds of stoppage time as a clipped ball forward was chested by Hume into the path of McATEER who drilled the ball past Tyler to cap an impressive first half for the hosts and a hopeless half for the visitors.

Manager Barry Fry made one change during the interval with experienced front man Andy Clarke replacing Purser in attack. A huge punt by Achterberg was allowed to reach Hall on 52 minutes, but the former Rushden & Diamonds winger dragged his shot well wide of the target.

Jason McAteer celebrates with Iain Hume after scoring the third goal
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Hall then lashed an effort just past the upright after McAteer twice scuffed efforts from distance as Tranmere sensed a fourth goal to please their noisy supporters. It was 4-0 on 62 minutes as a slick passing move from the hosts ended with WHITMORE having the space and time in the penalty area to drill the ball past Tyler and into the back of the net.

Mark Coulson was handed his first team competitive debut as a substitute with 20 minutes remaining and Posh came close to pulling a goal back as Ireland toe-poked the ball goal-wards, but it took a deflection for a corner kick.

Thomson then flashed a cross-shot across the six-yard box from a tight angle, more in hope than expectation. Youngster Shane Huke then replaced Welshman Legg in the middle of the pitch as Fry used his teenage replacements with the game lost.

Harrison flashed a header wide of the target from a Taylor cross as the game entered the final 10 minutes at Prenton Park. It was 5-0 on 81 minutes as HALL was allowed to ghost past three nonsensical challenges in the Posh midfield and back-line and curl home from just inside the penalty area.

Tyler prevented a quick-fire sixth from substitute Dagnell after another un-challenged run by Taylor down the right hand side. Arber then gave away a needless penalty kick after upending Dagnell and Hall stepped up in an attempt to complete his hat-trick, but Tyler saved his spot-kick.

Mark Tyler saves the penalty kick denying Hall a hat-trick

Woodhouse forced Achterberg into a fine one-handed save with a left-foot free kick three minutes from time before Rovers made their final substitution with Paul Linwood introduced. Huke fired over from 25-yards after a neat lay-off from St. Ledger as Posh tried in vane to get a consolation goal.

Hall nearly scored a sixth in stoppage time, but his cross-shot was nicked by Plummer away from danger. However, in the end it was a mere dot in the overall page as Tranmere were far too good for Posh who were sunk by a five-star Friday performance by Brian Little's men.

Final Score: Tranmere Rovers 5-0 Peterborough United
Goals: Rovers - Hall 16min, Hume 28min, McAteer 45min (+1), Whitmore 62min, Hall 82min, (Hall missed penalty 86min)

Tranmere: Achterberg, Taylor, Roberts, Jackson, Sharps, Hume (sub Harrison 78min), Rankine Hall, Goodison (sub Linwood 87min), Whitmore (sub Dagnell 70min), McAteer. Subs: Howarth, Dadi.

Posh: Tyler, Legg (sub Huke 73min), Woodhouse, St. Ledger, Arber, Thomson, Willock, Purser (sub Clarke 46min), Ireland, Deen (sub Coulson 70min), Plummer. Subs: Rea, Boucaud.

Referee: Mr A Hall
Attendance: 8,401