Andy Hessenthaler described his team’s victory as a "massive" achievement with Saturday’s win putting them right back in the race for the play-off.

Gillingham's 2-0 triumph over Torquay leaves them six points off the top seven with a game in hand.

And for Gills boss Hessenthaler (pictured) it was a deserved three points from a win that was on the cards after improved performances in their previous two matches.

"It was massive and I think it was coming," he said. "At Port Vale (last Saturday) we deserved more than we got. We didn’t get anything but the performance was very good.

"Then on Tuesday against Rotherham, who were a tough side, it was a good point. The pressure was on but we have gone with a younger team, after throwing in the youth. They are playing with a lot of confidence and this is a great win for us."

After failing to gain a win from their last six league games it was also a weight off the manager’s shoulders.

"It is always a nice relief to get a win," he said. "I was pleased on Tuesday with the performance and the point was probably a fair result, although on chances we should have won it.

"Against Torquay we went home happy because we were the better team over 90 minutes."

Hessenthaler admitted the Gills were showing the signs of a side under pressure but once Simon King headed them infront they went on to dominate.

He said: "In the first half we looked like a team which hadn’t won in the last six matches.

"We looked a little bit like we were trying to walk it in and trying that perfect pass instead of having a shot at goal.

"The first goal settled us down from a set play and we had spoken about Danny Kedwell making that near post run. He has got a flick on it and Simon looked at it, watched it all the way and it was a great header.

"We are pleased about that. It ended up being a set play and a penalty that won us the game but the clean sheet is really important to us and the more we get, the more games we’ll win."

It was King’s third goal for the club and Hessenthaler was delighted to see him get such an important one having spent so much time on the sidelines.

Hessenthaler said: "It is a great story and great to see him back. The fans love him and I love him."

The win was sealed with an injury-time penalty, converted by stand-in captain Kedwell. It was his seventh successful conversion of the season.

"The second goal game from sheer persistence by Kedwell," said Hessenthaler. "He put the pressure on their lad, he makes a mistake and Gavin has gone in.

"The referee didn’t actually give the penalty, the linesman did, but it was the right decision. The only thing is the referee got the wrong player, he sent the wrong player off. That’s something he will have to deal with though, it’s nothing to do with us.

"Kedwell did what he does well on penalties, he tucked it away. Game over."

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