Gills 1 (Weston) v Oldham 0
High winds and a some rain greeted the fans at Priestfield plus a late kick-off by five minutes while the local fire brigade made safe an advertising hoarding on the Gordon Road Stand.
An entertaining match followed and even allowing for the wind there was some high skill on view – especially from Gills Febian Brandy. He was the toast once again as he tormented the Oldham back four and earned the penalty that gave the Gills a deserved 1-0 win moving them up the league table into 15th position.
Saturday 14 November - League Division One - Report by GillsConnect Man on the Terrace
The Gills lost the toss and started the match kicking towards their favoured Rainham End with the wind mostly behind them. The opening exchanges were robust and end-to-end although the Gills were showing more enterprise in their efforts.
Oldham, as their impressive away stats showed, were not going to be easy opponents to beat and were quick in the tackle and their passing movement was crisp and neat.
However, Gills Febian Brandy (left) was the star of the show and might have scored after 23 minutes following a brilliant run by Andy Barcham who crossed the ball from the by-line. Febian’s on-target shot from Barcham’s cross was blocked close in by Reuben Hazell.
Febian Brandy was again involved in the great effort on the half hour when his deft lay off was curled onto the crossbar by Curtis Weston with Oldham’s goalkeeper, Darryl Flahavan, well beaten.
Real chances were at a premium and in truth both goalkeepers had little to do apart from routine saves. The one real chance for Oldham in the first half came just before half-time as Oldham striker Nick Blackman sent a powerful shot that dipped over the bar with Royce beaten for pace.
The second half started much as the first half ended but an early chance fell Oldham’s way when Danny Whitaker’s free-kick was headed onto the roof of the net by Reuben Hazell. Moments later Walker shot just wide as Oldham looked to take advantage of having the wind behind them.
Oldham captain, Sean Gregan, a player well known to Gills fans from his Preston days and tough tackling style, but now carrying an extra stone in weight, couldn’t stay with Febian’s quick turn of pace as he chased down an aerial pass from Kevin Maher.
Gregan lumbered forward to try and stop Brandy running free on goal only to mis-time his tackle and bring down the Gills player in the penalty area on 60 minutes.
Curtis Weston (left) taking the absent Simeon Jackson’s penalty role, made no mistake with the resulting spot kick as he fired the ball with great pace in off the right hand post with Darryl Flahavan making a great diving effort but
Curtis’s direction was just too good.
Sean Gregan, booed by Gills fans every time he touched the ball, was to blame for a possible second goal minutes later.
Under pressure from Stuart Lewis his hasty clearance went straight to Andy Barcham (right) on the edge of the area and he curled a shot beyond Darryl Flahavan's reach only to watch as the ball hit the bar.
With Gills in commanding mood at that stage of the game Oldham’s Reuben Hazell was extremely fortunate not to be sent off instead of yellow for bringing down Curtis Weston who was clean through on goal.
Going a goal behind seem to shake Oldham out of their defensive shell and inspired by substitutions began to pressurize the Gills defence for possibly the first time in the game.
However the Gills back four and midfield trio held firm to register another welcomed home win that moved them up to 15th position in League One.
Never a classic but the Gills deserved their win because of greater urgency and enterprise in attacking a resolute Oldham defence and in so doing ended a four game winless run in the league.
Gills: Simon Royce; John Nutter; Chris Palmer; Josh Gowling; Matt Fry; Stuart Lewis (Oli 83mins); Kevin Maher; Mark Bentley; Andy Barcham; Curtis Weston and Febian Brandy.
Subs not used: Andy Pugh; Alan Julian; Rashid Yussuff Luke Rooney; Jack Payne and Mark McCammon.
Oldham: Flahavan, Hills, Holdsworth, Hazell, Whitaker (Parker 72mins), Smalley (Brooke 83mins), Furman, Gregan, Taylor (Colbeck 90mins), Marrow, Blackman. Subs not used: Brill, Jacobson, Lee, Black.
Attendance: 4,787