Mike Jones scored a brilliant free-kick to end Oldham's run of three straight defeats with a hard-earned 1-0 victory at Port Vale.Oldham should have taken a 13th-minute lead when Jonathan Forte blazed wide from Dominic Poleon's cross when it looked easier to score.A goal looked unlikely before half-time until Vale defender Chris Robertson was penalised for a 42nd-minute push on Forte 25 yards out.Jones stepped up to curl a stunning right-footed free-kick over the defensive wall and high inside Chris Neal's left-hand post.Vale burst into life on the hour as Jake Kean made a fine save from Ben Williamson before Liam Kelly cleared Tom Pope's header off the line.But Oldham dug deep to secure the three points and end Vale's three-match winning sequence.