Colchester ended their four-match winless streak and extended Oldham's run without a victory to 11 games.
U's defender Nathan Clarke chested Brian Wilson's corner on to the crossbar early on.
Reuben Reid and Cedric Evina both fired wide for the Latics, while home goalkeeper Ben Williams did well to deny Kieran Lee and Ritchie Jones.
But Ashley Vincent won it for the hosts when he latched on to David Mooney's pass and fired low past Dean Brill.
Colchester manager John Ward told BBC Essex: "There was one or two nail-biting moments because 1-nil is always precarious.
"I'm really pleased for the players because they've stuck at their task.
"I'm more delighted for my chairman, he's stuck by everything that we've been trying to do, and still does."
Live text and stats
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Npower League One
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Colchester
1-0
Oldham
FT
(HT 0-0)
Vincent 52
Colchester
01 Williams
06 N Clarke
20 Wilson
28 Heath
10 Izzet
14 Bond
17 Perkins
24 Coker
07 Vincent (O'Toole 83)
18 Gillespie (Henderson 90)
19 Mooney (Odejayi 76)
Substitutes
12 Cousins,
25 White,
08 O'Toole,
22 Wordsworth,
26 James,
15 Odejayi,
16 Henderson
Oldham
01 Brill
02 Mvoto (Tarkowski 62)
06 Hazell
21 Black
07 Jones (Millar 70)
14 Furman
19 Lee yellow card
20 Stephens
09 Reid
22 Brooke (Tounkara 58)
35 Evina
Substitutes
28 Gerrard,
31 Tarkowski,
37 Winchester,
39 White,
15 Alessandra,
24 Millar,
36 Tounkara
Ref: LinningtonAtt: 2,892
COLCHESTER
OLDHAM
Possession
Colchester54%
Oldham46%
Attempts on target
Colchester7
Oldham4
Attempts off target
Colchester7
Oldham6
Corners
Colchester7
Oldham5
Fouls
Colchester11
Oldham13
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:23 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
90:00+3:27 Ian Henderson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Black. Direct free kick taken by Dean Furman.
90:00+1:36 David Perkins gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Dean Furman. Dean Furman restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+1:04 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Dale Stephens, clearance made by Nathan Clarke.
89:01 Substitution Ian Henderson comes on in place of Steven Gillespie.
87:38 Kemal Izzet fouled by Dale Stephens, the ref awards a free kick. Ben Williams takes the free kick.
87:03 Outswinging corner taken by Ben Coker from the left by-line, John-Joe O'Toole has a headed effort from close range and clears the crossbar.
85:26 Reuben Hazell concedes a free kick for a foul on Steven Gillespie. Brian Wilson produces a cross, Kayode Odejayi takes a shot. Save by Dean Brill.
84:05 Kayode Odejayi challenges Paul Black unfairly and gives away a free kick. Dean Brill takes the direct free kick.
82:01 Dale Stephens takes a shot. Save by Ben Williams.
81:14 Free kick awarded for a foul by Kemal Izzet on Paul Black. Cedric Evina takes the direct free kick.
77:54 The assistant referee flags for offside against Steven Gillespie. Free kick taken by Dean Brill.
77:09 Corner taken right-footed by Brian Wilson from the right by-line, clearance by Kirk Millar.
75:22 Substitution Kayode Odejayi comes on in place of David Mooney.
75:02 A cross is delivered by Cedric Evina, save by Ben Williams.
71:46 The referee blows for offside against Steven Gillespie. Dean Brill takes the indirect free kick.
71:02 Unfair challenge on Ben Coker by Dean Furman results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ben Williams.
69:31 Outswinging corner taken by Ben Coker from the left by-line played to the near post, free kick awarded for a foul by Matt Heath on Paul Black. Dean Brill takes the direct free kick.
69:31 Substitution Kirk Millar comes on in place of Ritchie Jones.
68:45 The ball is crossed by Brian Wilson, Paul Black makes a clearance.
67:45 Reuben Reid concedes a free kick for a foul on Kemal Izzet. Ben Williams takes the free kick.
67:06 Ashley Vincent produces a right-footed shot from long distance which goes wide right of the goal.
66:10 Steven Gillespie takes a shot. Save by Dean Brill.
64:26 David Mooney is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Dean Brill.
64:07 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Steven Gillespie by Reuben Hazell. Kemal Izzet takes the free kick.
61:33 Unfair challenge on Ashley Vincent by Kieran Lee results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ben Coker.
61:33 Substitution James Tarkowski on for Jean Yves Mvoto.
61:33 Booking Kieran Lee receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.
58:30 Effort on goal by David Mooney from just inside the area clears the crossbar.
57:17 Substitution Ryan Brooke leaves the field to be replaced by Oumare Tounkara.
54:35 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Dean Brill.
53:50 Ashley Vincent takes a shot. Save by Dean Brill.
52:59 Dale Stephens has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.
51:48 The assist for the goal came from Kemal Izzet.
51:48 GOAL - Ashley Vincent:Colchester 1 - 0 Oldham Ashley Vincent grabs a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Colchester 1-0 Oldham.
51:18 The referee blows for offside. Direct free kick taken by Ben Williams.
50:47 Unfair challenge on Reuben Hazell by Matt Heath results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Dean Brill.
50:05 The ball is swung over by Brian Wilson, clearance made by Kieran Lee.
49:29 Corner taken by Brian Wilson played to the near post, clearance by Dale Stephens.
48:59 Ritchie Jones gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steven Gillespie. Free kick taken by Ben Williams.
48:27 The assistant referee signals for offside against Ashley Vincent. Free kick taken by Dean Brill.
47:35 The assistant referee flags for offside against David Mooney. Dean Brill takes the free kick.
46:56 Effort from the edge of the area by Dean Furman goes wide of the right-hand upright.
46:20 Corner taken by Dale Stephens from the left by-line, clearance by Matt Heath.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:47 The referee calls an end to the first half.
44:48 Dale Stephens takes the outswinging corner, Jean Yves Mvoto takes a shot. Nathan Clarke makes a clearance.
44:12 Inswinging corner taken by Dale Stephens from the left by-line.
43:16 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ryan Brooke by Steven Gillespie. Direct free kick taken by Dean Brill.
42:46 The assistant referee signals for offside against Reuben Reid. Nathan Clarke restarts play with the free kick.
42:07 The ball is crossed by Ashley Vincent, Dean Brill makes a save.
40:54 Matt Heath gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Brooke. Dale Stephens shoots direct from the free kick, blocked by Kemal Izzet.
40:44 David Mooney concedes a free kick for a foul on Dean Furman. Direct free kick taken by Reuben Hazell.
39:16 A cross is delivered by Ben Coker, save by Dean Brill.
37:57 Ashley Vincent concedes a free kick for a foul on Dean Furman. Free kick taken by Dean Brill.
37:31 Ben Coker takes a short corner.
36:24 David Mooney takes a shot. Save by Dean Brill.
35:56 Unfair challenge on David Perkins by Dean Furman results in a free kick. Ben Coker takes the direct free kick.
31:44 The offside flag is raised against Reuben Reid. Free kick taken by Ben Williams.
31:10 Reuben Reid gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ben Coker. Matt Heath takes the direct free kick.
28:21 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dean Furman by David Mooney. Reuben Hazell takes the direct free kick.
26:09 Corner taken by Dale Stephens played to the near post, Effort from the edge of the box by Ritchie Jones goes wide of the left-hand post.
25:57 Kieran Lee takes a shot. Save made by Ben Williams.
24:15 David Perkins produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.
23:29 The offside flag is raised against Ryan Brooke. Free kick taken by Ben Williams.
22:37 Paul Black has an effort at goal from outside the box missing to the wide left of the goal.
22:07 David Mooney takes a shot. Dean Brill makes a save.
20:48 Cedric Evina has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the target.
19:49 Reuben Reid has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the goal.
19:04 David Mooney is caught offside. Dean Brill takes the free kick.
17:12 Kieran Lee gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Mooney. The ball is delivered by Brian Wilson, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by David Mooney goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
16:09 Corner from the left by-line taken by Ben Coker, Header from deep inside the area by Nathan Clarke goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
14:53 Brian Wilson is adjudged to have handled the ball. Dean Furman restarts play with the free kick.
13:39 Reuben Reid crosses the ball.
11:42 Outswinging corner taken by Ashley Vincent, Nathan Clarke takes a shot.
10:11 Ryan Brooke challenges David Mooney unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ben Williams takes the free kick.
7:58 The offside flag is raised against Ryan Brooke. Ben Williams takes the free kick.
6:59 Ryan Brooke gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ben Coker. Direct free kick taken by Nathan Clarke.
6:25 Kemal Izzet takes a shot. Blocked by Jean Yves Mvoto.
3:15 Dale Stephens gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andy Bond. Direct free kick taken by Ben Coker.
0:00 The match begins.
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