TRANMERE saw off the last lingering threat of relegation in emphatic style, to the delight of a bank holiday crowd at Prenton Park who left the ground singing “We are staying up.”

Michael Kay and Lucas Akins scored their first league goals, Akins at the double, and Enoch Showunmi weighed in with his 13th strike of the season to produce a scoreline that only just began to reflect Rovers’ dominance of the contest.

Exeter, coming into the match on the back of five wins and with a play-off place within their sights, where outfought and outplayed from first to last and in every area of the pitch.

The only disappointment was that Tranmere could not set a performance as rich as this before the 12,000 crowd who watched their previous home game, a 1-0 defeat to Notts County last Tuesday.

Results elsewhere yesterday made it mathematically certain Rovers can’t be caught by any of the teams in the bottom four.

With 53 points on board they are already two points better off than last season’s final total, and they have two games still to play.

The fact that they stand safe and clear of a clutch of clubs with significantly higher budgets and greater resources is a tribute to the dedicated work of manager Les Parry and his backroom staff.

Parry made his intentions clear by recalling flair players Dale Jennings and Andy Robinson to the starting line-up and the pair made the most of the little bit of extra freedom they were afforded by an Exeter team committed to playing attractive football.

Ash Taylor was also impressive at centre back, where he replaced the injured Mark McChrystal.

But there wasn’t a player in the side who could be dissatisfied with his contribution.

Tranmere made a positive start with Jennings getting around the back of the visiting defence in the first minute to fire in a low cross towards Showunmi that was intercepted at full stretch by Richard Duffy.

Two minutes later Exeter goalkeeper Artur Krysiak mishit a clearance into the path of midfielder Robbie Weir, who was unable to control the ball.