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Oldham Athletic 2-1 Gillingham

Gavin Browne
13/ 2/2008

CRAIG Davies’ 13th goal of the season saw Athletic emerge with three points and back-to-back home league wins for the first time since March 2007.

A curate’s egg of a performance ended with Latics coming from behind to register the first of the 11 wins Latics boss John Sheridan said were necessary for a play-off spot.

Having promised all-out attack in the build-up to the game, Sheridan had seen his side flounder for the first half-hour before eventually asserting themselves.

With Gillingham playing three across midfield, Athletic had plenty of chances to exploit the vacant space out wide.

They used it to good effect early on, almost taking a second minute lead when Chris Taylor was set free, only to see his shot beaten away by Simon Royce.

However, that was as creative as Latics were for most of the first half as they too often looked to be a yard off the pace against a visiting side with only two league wins away from home all season.

Mark Stimson’s assortment of veterans and players plucked from non-league took a 25th minute lead with a goal that Latics’ defence would like to forget.

Nicky Southall sent over a cross from the right that should have been routine for Mark Crossley, but he collided with Neal Eardley and allowed Dennis Oli to head home.

As well as leaving Crossley with a dead leg, it also caused a handful of fans in the main stand to voice their displeasure at Sheridan and any players in a blue shirt.

Despite his woes, Crossley came out quickly to thwart Andrew Crofts before Eardley fired wide from 25 yards at the other end as Athletic sought an equaliser.

Salvation came two minutes before the break when Lewis Alessandra played the ball through for Taylor to advance down the middle and slide the ball under the advancing Royce.

The timing of the goal was equally as important; Gillingham would surely have been buoyant had they managed to hold out until the break, but as it was, it was the home side who held the initiative going into the second half.

Understandably for a teenager, it was Alessandra who best summed up Latics’ inconsistencies; neat through balls and link-up play were offset by several instances where he lost his feet in a good position.

It was from his pass that Gary McDonald shot wide on the hour before returning the favour three minutes later, heading down for Alessandra to fire off target.

What proved to be the winner came in the 67th minute when, with Latics having four men in attack, Jason Jarrett advanced 40 yards before picking out McDonald.

He in turn found Davies who took his time before sending Royce the wrong way from 15 yards, much to the delight and relief of the home fans.

With Gillingham not looking like pulling a goal back, despite the best efforts of the impressive Adam Miller, it was the home side who had the remaining chances.

Alessandra was thwarted by a poor touch when played in by Davies, who was later denied by Royce following Mark Allott’s fine through ball.

The last word almost went to McDonald when, in stoppage time, he seized on a clearance before hitting the bar with a first-time shot from 30 yards.

Although a two-goal winning margin would have perhaps been a fair reflection, three points was the main thing heading into Tuesday’s game at Bristol Rovers.