Oldham Athletic 0 Gillingham 1 League 2 match report: Sam Vokes scores winner as Gills go top of the table

Veteran striker Sam Vokes came off the bench to score Gillingham’s winner at Oldham on Saturday.

The 35-year-old produced a brilliant header with 19 minutes left to send unbeaten Gills top of the table.

Gillingham made one change from the team that beat Crewe last week with Max Clark returning at left-back ahead of Lenni Cirino.

There was a place on the bench for 17-year-old youth-team midfielder Cruz Beszant.

Draw specialists Oldham made three changes from their trip to Fleetwood, which was their fourth draw in five games at the start of the campaign.

Referee Scott Jackson had a busy afternoon with four yellow cards in the first 28 minutes.

The tone was set inside the first 30 seconds with Oldham striker Joe Quigley booked for a foul on Sam Gale.

Gills settled quickest but had only a Josh Andrews 25-yard shot, which went well wide of the target, to show for their efforts.

Oldham slowly got into their stride. Luke Hannant’s pull back to Quigley saw the forward’s left-foot shot directed behind for a corner.

A second corner followed immediately which flashed across the Gillingham six-yard box without a home player able to get a telling touch.

Hannant was next in the book for a late challenge on Andy Smith, Bradley Dack joined him for a foul and Ryan Woods - having already been warned for backchat - saw yellow for dissent.

Gills had their best openings through Remeao Hutton down the right wing. Twice he picked out the towering Josh Andrews with crosses into the penalty box. The first saw Andrews plant his header well wide of the near post and then he lacked power with a right-foot shot that trickled straight to keeper Mathew Hudson.

At the other end, despite Oldham enjoying more of the ball as the half wore on, Gills never