Town's troubles on their travels continued as Tranmere hit three past the Terriers at Prenton Park this evening. There were signs of improvements from Ritchie's men despite the scoreline, but the table-topping home side justified their League position with an impressive victory.

Danny Cadamarteri had the first real shot in anger for either side in the fourth minute when Ronnie Wallwork played the ball out of defence to Andy Holdsworth; the midfielder in turn played it out to the left wing for the Town striker who cut in from the flank but saw his tame right-foot effort roll harmlessly wide.

Tranmere midfielder Paul McLaren replied just two minutes later when the ball ran kindly for him on the edge of Town's area and he unleashed a well-struck effort from 23 yards which sailed over keeper Glennon's bar.

McLaren was involved again just seconds later with an incisive pass which split the central defensive partnership of Richard Keogh and Nathan Clarke, but left back Joe Skarz sprinted from the flank top make a superb, goal-saving sliding tackle on the penalty spot.

Luke Beckett was inches away from converting Town's best move on 20 minutes. The patient and measured build up from Ritchie's men revolved around midfielder Wallwork, but it was Malvin Kamara's clever ball inside Tranmere right-back Shane Sherriff which opened up the defence. The advancing Holdsworth latched onto the pass and fired the ball across the face of goal, but it just eluded the diving foot of Beckett at the far post.

The McLaren/Greenacre combination proved dangerous again for Town on 25 minutes when the midfielder burst into space on the edge of the area and played the ball right to the striker whose low effort was inches wide of Glennon's right-hand post.

GOAL: On 29 minutes midfielder McLaren opened the scoring with an unstoppable strike from inside the area. Tranmere's bustling centre-forward Gareth Taylor beat Keogh in the air and the follow-up should have been nodded clear by Clarke but his header fell straight to McLaren whose first time half-volley left Glennon with no chance.

Tranmere tried for an immediate second and almost straight from the restart the play opened up in the centre of the field allowing Anthony Kay a run at goal before hitting a bullet from 25 yards which was straight down the throat of Matt Glennon.

BOOKING: On 30 minutes Gareth Taylor became the first player to be booked after a late challenge on Richard Keogh.

BOOKING: On 35 minutes Mike Jones became the second player to be booked after a late challenge on Danny Schofield.

McLaren was involved in Tranmere's next effort when he got free on the left near the by-line and cut the ball back for Greenacre who, leaning backwards, brought an excellent, acrobatic save from Glennon.

Kamara had Town's next effort from range when Tranmere keeper Danny Coyne rushed from his area only to see his clearance fall to the midfielder but, on his weaker left foot Kamara's effort never troubled the Tranmere goal.

BOOKING: Cadamarteri was booked on the stroke of half time for a late challenge on Kevin Cooper.

HALF TIME: TRANMERE ROVERS 1 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0

McLaren forced Glennon into a brilliant near-post save within the first minute of the second half when Cooper played the ball short in the box from the left flank. The busy Tranmere midfielder deftly touched the ball goalward, but the Town keeper was well placed to make a good reaction save.

GOAL: Tranmere were quickly out of the traps in the second half and Town conceded a second goal from a set-piece and it was Sherriff who headed into an unguarded net. McLaren's corner from the right was floated to the centre, Glennon rushed from his line to punch but a combination of him, Clarke, Sinclair and Taylor, who all went for the same ball, could not prevent it reaching the far post where Sherriff rose unmarked to head home from 4 yards.

Kay was presented with a shot from the edge of the area after good work by the home side. Kay worked his way down the right flank before crossing to the far post to Taylor, who was in acres; he in-turn calmly played the ball to Mike Jones who pulled the trigger, but saw his effort form 19 yards fly well over the bar.

Town's first effort of the half came soon after from a Wallwork set-piece after Kamara was fouled 24 yards out. The loan man's well-struck curling effort was on target, but keeper Coyne rose easily at his near post.

BOOKING: Chris Greenacre was next in referee Taylor's book on 69 minutes after a cynical challenge on Andy Holdsworth.

SUB: On 72 minutes Academy striker Daniel Broadbent made his League debut replacing Joe Skarz; Ritchie playing three strikers and throwing everything at the home side. Clarke slipped into the sweeper role, flanked by Sinclair on the right and Keogh on the left. Schofield switched to left wing-back with Kamara doing the same on the opposite flank.

Town appeared lifted and Holdsworth was unlucky to see his effort from distance not hit the target and Beckett went close moments later from a Wallwork corner, but the striker got underneath the ball and his header went over the bar.

Danny Broadbent got his first touch on 79 minutes after good work by Kamara who forged down the flank and past the full back for the second time in as many minutes. Broadbent picked up the ball on the edge of the area and played an intelligent ball across the box for Cadamarteri whose effort was charged down.

SUB: Tranmere made their first change when Carl Tremarco replaced Kevin Cooper.

GOAL: Gareth Taylor added a third for the home side on 83 minutes when he rose at the near post to nod home another well-taken Tranmere corner.

Town crafted a well-worked set-piece of their own two minutes later, but unfortunately it did not yield the same results. Holdsworth's set-piece was played short to Schofield who fed Wallwork on the edge of the area, but the loan man's bullet from 25 yards was straight at keeper Coyne.

SUB: Tranmere made their second change on 87 minutes replacing Chris Greenacre with Craig Curran.

FULL TIME: TRANMERE ROVERS 3 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0

Tranmere: Danny Coyne, Robbie Stockdale, Shane Sherriff, Anthony Kay, Gareth Taylor, Chris Greenacre (Craig Curran 87), Ben Chorley, Ian Goodison (c), Kevin Cooper (Carl Tremarco 81), Mike Jones

Subs not used:, Steve Jennings, Paul Henry, John Achterberg.

Town: Matt Glennon, Andy Holdsworth, Joe Skarz (Danny Broadbent 72), Nathan Clarke, Danny Cadamarteri, Danny Schofield, Frank Sinclair (c), Richard Keogh, Malvin Kamara, Ronnie Wallwork, Luke Beckett.

Subs not used: Alex Smithies, Michael Collins, Chris Brandon, David Mirfin.