Rain-soaked Boundary Park watched Oldham Athletic’s promotion honeymoon end in frustration as Gillingham snatched a 1-0 victory that sent the visitors to the summit of League 2.

Sam Vokes’ 71st-minute header separated the sides before 6,233 spectators and left Micky Mellon’s men still chasing their first Football League win since returning from the National League.

“We only have ourselves to blame if we don’t take our chances,” Mellon declared after watching his charges spurn a flurry of opportunities either side of halftime. “It was a good performance and apart from 10 minutes before half time I thought we played very well. We had some really good chances to get that first goal, two good chances just after half time. If you do all things that are necessary and you get the opportunities you have to take them.”

The Latics manager had been forced into three changes from the 1-1 draw at Fleetwood - Mike Fondop’s knee and Reagan Ogle’s stomach complaint paving the way for Will Sutton, Luke Hannant and Kian Harratt - and the reshuffle began brightly. Hannant’s 17th-minute drive took a deflection, and, after the restart, Kane Drummond cracked a header against the bar before Joe Quigley curled inches wide.

Quigley remained the focal point, drawing a smart save from Glenn Morris and seeing muted penalty appeals when bundled over by McKenzie, yet it was substitute Vokes who proved clinical. Max Clarke’s 71st-minute corner found the veteran striker unmarked; his downward header squirmed through a crowded six-yard box to settle matters.

Jake Caprice received a rousing ovation on his first league appearance since Easter, and late pressure saw Tom Conlon’s free-kick pushed away, Oli Hammond drag into the side-netting and Quigley head straight at Morris, but Gillingham held firm even as stoppage-time shouts for another Quigley foul went unanswered.

Oldham, unbeaten on the road, now head to Cambridge on Saturday still seeking that elusive first three points.

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