Sam Vokes’ first Gillingham goal proved to be the match-winner as Gills secured a first win at Boundary Park in 25 years, defeating Oldham Athletic 1-0 on Saturday.
The goal came from a Max Clark corner, as he swung his cross towards the back post. Mathew Hudson in the Oldham goal tried to deal with it, but could not make contact, and it found Vokes at the back post. The forward cushioned his header into the back of the net, despite the best attempts from an Oldham defender to push it off the line.
Gareth Ainsworth made one change to the starting XI that beat Crewe Alexandra, as Max Clark returned to the side. Lenni Cirino dropped to the bench. Academy player Cruz Beszant was named among the substitutes.
The opening 15 minutes were quiet, with neither side creating an opportunity of note. A lot of the play was in and around the midfield areas, as both teams made their way into the game. Josh Andrews had the only effort, with a snapshot from range going wide of the target.
Joe Quigley had a shot deflected wide after Luke Hannant got in behind down the left-hand side. He cut the ball back towards the penalty spot for Quiqley, who hooked a first time effort goalward. It hit a Gills defender going wide of the target for a corner.
Having dealt with the initial corner, the hosts had another, which Tom Conlon took. He fizzed a low ball across the face of the six-yard box, and it needed just a touch to give Oldham the lead. Fortunately, no one was in the vicinity as it flashed across the face of the goal before going out of play.
In the 33rd minute, good play from Gills resulted in an Andrews' header. Bradley Dack played it into the feet of Elliott Nevitt, who quickly laid it back for Armani Little. He spread the ball wide to Remeao Hutton, who took it down the right-hand side, getting beyond a defender before sending a cross into the box. It found Andrews, but he could not adjust quickly enough to angle his header on target, and it went wide of the goal.
Another opportunity dropped to Andrews after good work in the middle by Robbie McKenzie. He did well to skip past a challenge before playing it out to Hutton on the right. The right wing-back fizzed a ball into the penalty area, and it came to Andrews, who was 12 yards out. However, he saw it late and was unable to get enough power behind the strike to truly test Mathew Hudson in the Oldham goal.
HALF-TIME: Oldham Athletic 0-0 Gillingham
The hosts somehow failed to open the scoring moments after the break. Jamie Robson dinked a cross towards the back post, which Harratt headed back across the goal. Kane Drummond was waiting by the post a couple of yards out, only needing to cushion the header into the goal. However, he missed the target, with his header always rising.
Quigley had another great chance seconds later. He received the ball in a central position on the edge of the penalty area. The Oldham forward had the option of playing it to Drummond to his left, who was unmarked. However, he opted to go for goal, curling his shot wide of the post.
Gills had a good opportunity in the 55th minute. Little cut out a pass forward by the hosts before driving towards the penalty area. He waited before offloading it to Hutton, who had made an overlapping run. His dinked cross was headed down by Andrews towards Nevitt. He went down under a challenge before Little picked up the loose ball inside the box and got a shot away. Unfortunately, his attempt was blocked.
Quigley had another good chance after Oldham managed to get down the right-hand side. Will Sutton curled a cross towards the six-yard, finding the rising striker, with his header cushioned into the arms of Glenn Morris.
Gills made their first substitution after 63 minutes, with Sam Vokes replacing Andrews.
Hannant tried a speculative volley after a corner was headed as far as the Oldham man, with his attempt flashing wide of the post.
Seconds later, Gillingham made a triple substitution. Beszant entered the game, making his professional debut, replacing Dack. Aaron Rowe and Joe Gbode replaced Nevitt and Hutton.
In the 71st minute, Vokes scored his first Gillingham goal. Gale did brilliantly to win a corner from nothing, which Clark curled towards the back post. Hudson tried to meet the ball, but could not get there, which allowed Vokes to nod his header into the back of the net. An Oldham defender tried his best to push the ball off the line, but could not as it nestled in the back of the net.
Morris did well to deny Conlon soon after. The hosts were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area in a central position. Conlon got his attempt up and over the wall, but Morris got across to palm it away from the danger.
Home fans thought Oli Hammond had equalised after he received the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box. He struck a low driven effort towards the near post, which beat Morris. Fortunately, it nestled into the side netting, going the wrong side of the post.
Quigley had another good chance with three minutes to go. Ryan Woods curled a cross into the box, which was headed goalward by the forward. However, it was straight at Morris, who made the routine save.
Despite the hosts' best attempts, Gills saw the game out, brilliantly managing the game to ensure they returned to ME7 with all three points.
FULL-TIME: Oldham Athletic 0-1 Gillingham
Oldham Athletic: Hudson, Sutton (Caprice 83’), Daniels, Monthe, Robson, Hannant (Hammond 68’), Woods, Conlon, Drummond, Harratt (Hawkes 57’), Quigley
Unused Substitutes: Donaghy, Olson, Kay, Waters
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton (Gbode 67’), Smith, McKenzie, Gale, Clark, Little, Coleman, Dack (Beszant 66’), Nevitt (Rowe 66’), Andrews (Vokes 63’)
Unused Substitutes: Turner, Cirino, Wyllie
Referee: Scott Jackson
Attendance: 6233 (549)
