Kane Hemmings ended a four-month goalless streak in the league with an early strike as Barnsley won 1-0 at home to Oldham Athletic on Tuesday.

The Reds made it six points for the week following their Saturday success against Port Vale and are now seven points clear of the relegation zone and four off the play-off places.

Although the game was low quality the Reds got the job done and have now won their last four League One matches at Oakwell. Josh Scowen had an excellent full debut as he came in for the benched Dale Jennings in the only change from Saturday.

Jonathan Forte chipped over the bar when put through by an error from former Oldham defender Jean Yves M'voto. But it was the Reds who took the lead with a very good goal after 12 minutes.

George Waring fired a fine pass out to Milan Lalkovic whose excellent right-wing cross was volleyed home by Hemmings eight yards out.

Hemmings and Forte each put half-chances wide of the goal before Barnsley went into the half-time break 1-0 ahead.

Lalkovic looked to be denied a clear penalty midway through the first half when he was bundled over in the box by Joseph Mills.

Conor Hourihane fired a shot just wide while George Elokobi and Carl Winchester could not really threaten the home goal from long range.

Forte had a golden chance to level on 96 minutes but miscontrolled when clean through and Ross Turnbull gathered the ball.