The season had not ended for Oldham Athletic's youth team before the club confirmed the door would close on their academy structure and a new-look youth set-up proposed.

Promotion could not be secured within the two-year period of grace that teams relegated from the Football League receive to preserve academy status. And so plan B begins.

But the players have come too far this season to not go out in style. And as they graced the Boundary Park pitch for their final academy act - at home to Shrewsbury Town Under 18s and in front of family, friends and fans - they demonstrated the respect they have for each other, the club, and coach Chukwuma Akuneto with a performance to be proud of.

Sam Davidson rifled in the first goal, Alfie Atherton added the second to give the young Latics a 2-0 lead at the break, and Collins Kagawe completed the scoreline eight minutes into the second half.

It could have been more. But the teenagers more than demonstrated the qualities that will stand them in good stead whatever the future holds for them - in football or elsewhere.

First year scholars have been offered the opportunity to stay within the club's new development centre, but they do not have to take it. Of the second years, some might stay, some will go.

But you would never have known the uncertainty by the way they attacked the game, and that is credit to Akuneto and the team that he has fostered and relationships he has built with individuals and the team since his appointment last summer as the club's new professional development phase lead.

They endured a difficult start to the season, but he transformed the team - notably recognising Atherton's attacking abilities and recast him from winger to striker - and results followed.

"My philosophy is to create a team that work together because it's not fair to put different responsibility on one player to get us the win. It is a collective team effort so we move the ball about and help each other a lot.

"It has come to fruition as the season has gone on. I've seen them getting better and better," said Akuneto, who has previously worked at clubs including FC United of Manchester, where he spent time as both Youth Team Manager and a First team coach, and has also coached Stockport County U18s.

Much like his players, he does not know what the future holds, but he made sure they were ready for the season finale.

"The door has closed (on the academy) but I can't control that," he said.

"The only thing I could control is that we've got the opportunity of representing Oldham so what I told them in the changing room was 'what happens tomorrow we don't know, but we are here, we've got a match, playing for Oldham - can we go and represent that badge and ourselves, which they did very well."

Goalscorers Atherton and Davidson both paid tribute to the impact Akuneto, fondly known as Chucks, has had on them as a team and as individuals.

"I think we've come together as people as well as the team, bonding in the changing room and that's down to Chucks, he's done very well with us," said Atherton.

"We had a bad start to the season and didn't win for the first five or six games but we pulled it round around Christmas time and since then we've got some good results.

"We've had to work hard. We've had games where we haven't really been at our best but we've still got three points and that's down to us working hard as a team."

And Atherton said he relished the new role he was given.

"I think I've done well this season, I've scored a few goals since Chucks started playing me as a striker," he explained.

"I came in as a winger at the start of the second year and he said 'I think you play well as a striker' and I've got a lot of goals and assists to show for it.

"He's worked with me on the movement and where to be. We play with a two (up front) so he's worked with the other striker as well.

"I'm buzzing to finish with a goal."

Davidson, who has been with Latics since under nines, added: "You always want to finish the season with a win, wherever you are in the league, so it was brilliant that we did that.

"Chucks has just encouraged us to be confident and composed and learn the philosophy and he's a great coach.

"It's just about learning and delivering on what Chucks is saying and it's about delivering on the pitch."