HARD work paid dividends for Latics in their win over Exeter, as both goals came from set piece routines they had repeatedly gone through in training.

But for Kyle Jameson it was a case of 'it will be all right on the night'.

The defender towered in a packed penalty area to steer a powerful header past goalkeeper Jokull Andersson for his first goal for the club and set Latics on their way to a 2-1 win against the ambitious Grecians.

New head coach Keith Curle could afford himself a wry smile at the way things turned out, having seen little evidence of that outcome in training.

"The first goal was excellent from the set piece, something that we are working on and it's nice when you get the rewards. Kyle said (the day before) he was going to score from a set piece, because on the set piece drills that we were doing I've got to say he was awful," Curle smiled, admitting that it was more important for him to deliver when it mattered most.

"He got in the right position but sometimes you can score a hatful of goal the day before and then it not come off on the day, so I don't get fazed when the contact isn't quite right. It's all about the timing, the movement and the desire to get in there, then we've always got a chance."

Curle also praised Alfie McCalmont for the manner in which he scored the decisive second from a similar set piece routine.

"The actual technique of making the contact... I think a lot of times we will see the ball bounce out to the edge of the box and the midfield playing lashing it with his laces," he said.

"Alfie has, consistently now with the Scunthorpe goal as well, been composed, good technician, and hits the target.

"The players might pay a little bit more attention now when we are doing the set pieces (in training). We do spend time on them, and the rewards are there."