Latics impressive away form this season wasn't enough to see them leave the wind-battered South Coast with a point from a frustrating visit to Gillingham.

The Gills retained all three points thanks to a second half penalty from Curtis Weston, after Captain Sean Gregan had come together with Febian Brandy.

The penalty wasn't the only controversial decision of the game, with Reuben Hazell fortunate not to be sent off late in the game for bringing down what appeared to be a clean through Weston and Nick Blackman seemingly deserving a penalty when he was clumsily brought down in the Gill's box.

Blackman had returned to the Athletic starting line up with Pawel Abbott still absent through injury and throughout the game, despite a good performance from the Blackburn loanee, it was clear to see that Latics missed his presence in the attacking third.

The first half was punctuated by two good chances. The first fell to Blackman for Athletic, as he rose highest to meet Lee Hills' delightful cross into the hosts' area to head just wide of the upright. At the other end it was Weston who came closest, when he clipped the Latics bar from 20 yards.

Blackman also had a half chance from distance for Latics, late in the half, which had started to get quite testy and remained so despite the half time interval, Latics' Alex Marrow earning a free kick on the edge of the area after a petulant foul from Lewis.

Whitaker's ball in was met with a looping header from Hazell which landed on to the roof of the net, Latics clearly on top early in the second half before Febian Brandy stole a penalty from the visitors just before the hour mark.

An aimless ball into the Latics area held up in the wind over Sean Gregan's head and landed at the feet of the United loanee, Gregan's attempt to play the ball saw him and the forward come together, the Gills man going down as if shot by a cannon and the Assistant Referee placing his flag across his chest to indicate a penalty, with which Weston made no mistake.