OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1, GILLINGHAM 0.
Josh Law ensured it was a winning return for new Oldham Athletic manager John Sheridan who has been charged with plotting another great escape for the relegation-threatened side.
The midfielder scored the all-important goal as Latics recorded their first league victory for almost three months to move off last place in Sky Bet League One.
Sheridan, who performed a similar feat of escapology 12 months ago, had taken control with Latics rock bottom – without a league win since October 18 when they defeated league leaders Scunthorpe United.
And the only two successes in the last 15 games under previous manager Stephen Robinson had come in FA Cup and Checkatrade Trophy ties.
Latics, who had failed to find in the net in 17 out of 24 previous league games, found a route to goal while also cleaning a rare clean sheet, two encouraging pointers for the new manager who only took charge on Friday, little more than 24 hours before the match.
Sheridan made two changes to the side that lost at League Two club Mansfield Town in the Checkatrade Trophy.
There were recalls for strikers Lee Erwin and Billy Mckay as Paul Green and Darius Osei stood down.
Erwin, who has missed the last month through injury, was part of the attack as Latics went in search of a goal from the first minute.
However, it would be Gillingham who had the first opportunity of the first half after 11 minutes when Chris Herd’s effort from scrambled to safety.
There was a seven-minute stoppage when Latics’ captain Peter Clarke had a cut bandaged and Gills’ goalkeeper Stuart Nelson received stitches in his mouth from the doctor.
Clarke showed no ill effects and forced Nelson into a smart save midway through the half.
Billy Knott had a free kick saved by goalkeeper Connor Ripley on the half hour mark and minutes later Ryan McLaughlin’s low strike was saved by Nelson.
The breakthrough came after 37 minutes when Ousmane Fane set out on a surging run and released Billy Mckay who was tripped on the edge of the box by Paul Konchesky who received a booking.
And Law added further punishment as he curled the free kick into the top corner from 20 yards.
Gillingham had two chances through Max Ehmer soon after but both were well saved by Ripley. His first was an overhead kick which forced Ripley into a full-length diving save and minutes later he had to save Ehmer’s volley from the edge of the box.
Latics felt they should have been awarded a penalty after 50 minutes as Ryan Flynn was tripped in the penalty area, but the referee waved away the protests.
Soon afterwards, Erwin’s neat skill took him away from three players but he poked his shot wide as a second goal eluded Latics.
Just before the hour, Flynn’s deflected shot fell onto the head of Mckay, but Nelson managed to tip the ball around the post at full stretch to deny the striker.
Law was a continua threat from set pieces and he almost made it two after 64 minutes, but his free kick from 25 yards was tipped over the crossbar by Nelson.
Gillingham started to put the pressure on Latics’ defence, but they were met by a stubborn back three of George Edmundson, Clarke and Brian Wilson.
Edmundson threw himself in front of a Josh Wright effort, Bradley Dack’s free kick was off target and another effort went wide of Ripley’s far post.
Latics could and maybe should have extended their lead in the final 10 minutes.
Cameron Dummigan’s cross found Clarke in the centre, but he could not connect while a minute later, Ryan McLaughlin struck over from the resulting corner.
Second-year scholar Brendan Glackin came on in the latter stages replacing the injured Darius Osei and he made a good impact.
In the final minutes of the game, Knott forced Ripley into a save whilst in the final minute Latics could have extended their lead when Law’s fierce strike from 25 yards on the volley struck the top of the crossbar but it did not matter as Latics had secured a victory made even more important because other struggling sides also won..
Oldham Athletic (3-5-2): Ripley; Edmundson, Clarke, Wilson; Dummigan, McLaughlin, Fane, Law, Flynn; Erwin (Osei 60, Glackin 87), Mckay (Green 80). Subs (not used): Kettings, King, Reckord, Banks.
Goal: Law 39 for Oldham.
Attendance: 3,475