Petrasso perfect for Latics

Photo: Pictures by ALAN HOWARTH.

IT’S THERE: Michael Petrasso loops a header past Gills’ ’keeper Stuart Nelson for the only goal.

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Gillingham 0, Oldham 1

TEN men of Athletic stood firm against a baying crowd and the ultra-direct tactics of a primitive home side to claim three vital league points.

But by the final whistle, Genseric Kusunga was already in the dressing room - recovering from being hammered into advertising hoardings and after being shown the red card for understandable retaliation against his aggressor, Danny Kedwell.

Danny Philliskirk too was in the wars, knocked out temporarily and with a stitch in a head wound. Not that it stopped him copping mouthfuls of abuse from the frustrated home support inside the tight Priestfield Stadium.

But for all the bruised bodies and damaged disciplinary record – Gills striker Kedwell absurdly got off with a yellow card for his aggressive actions, while Kusunga sits out three matches for taking his opponent by the throat – at least Athletic, the better side throughout by a distance, left for home content.

Nobody more so than match-winner Mike Petrasso. “When I saw all the people smiling and screaming my name, it was an incredible feeling to be honest,” said the 18 year old from Toronto, who was thrust-in from the start as a replacement for injured Cristian Montano.

“I was in the right place when the ball came bouncing to me. I didn’t think, I just knocked it over with my head and as it crossed the line I couldn’t believe I had scored on my debut.”

Having only met up with the squad the previous day, Petrasso played his part quietly in a performance which collectively strangled the life out of Peter Taylor’s side.

In keeping with what was at times an ugly contest, the match-winning goal scored with the head of 5ft6in winger Petrasso was not a thing of beauty.

James Dayton’s pass released Philliskirk down the left. Cutting infield, his shot was stopped by Gillingham goalkeeper Stuart Nelson and fell to Jonson Clarke-Harris. The striker scuffed the rebound into the turf, only for it to pop up perfectly for Petrasso.

Athletic merited the lead. The better chances in the first half were the visitors’. Philliskirk’s third-minute header had direction but not power, Joseph Mills’ cross-shot travelled a whisker wide and the terrific Korey Smith turned neatly to smash in an effort which Nelson had to be down sharply to in order to palm it behind.

Athletic emerged the stronger of the sides again as the second half got underway. The one element lacking for Johnson was the accuracy of a final ball to pick apart the Gills’ defence. That is, before Petrasso’s intervention.

The loss of Kusunga prompted a change to a 4-4-1 formation with Charlie MacDonald in central midfield and in truth, Athletic saw the game out with ease. The visitors could even have embellished the lead in the seven minutes of added time. A 30-yard free kick from Mills almost signed off his loan period from Burnley in style and Sidney Schmeltz’s driven cut-back for fellow substitute Adam Rooney had a touch too much juice on it, resulting in an air-shot when in space inside the box.

But Athletic’s passing game won the day and Johnson’s side now boast a recent record of six victories in the last 10 outings.