Andy Frampton leads the Gills players on a lap of thanks after the final game of the season Picture: Barry Goodwin

By Luke Cawdell

Andy Hessenthaler admitted Saturday’s game was no thriller but was pleased to see his Gillingham team to end the season on a high.

However, the Gills boss could not help but wonder what might have thing as they missed out on the play-offs by just one place for the second season in a row since Hessenthaler's return to the club.

“The important thing was that we finished off with a win because obviously we have missed out again, finishing eighth again like we did last year," said Hessenthaler.

“We lost out (on the play-offs) by two points and I will probably go home and beat myself up if I look back at some of the game where we should have won.

“There was the referee’s decision at Bradford where I knew maybe that could come back to haunt us and it probably has. Then there was Wimbledon at home where we had been winning the game quite comfortably.

“There is no point looking back over that though because I just won’t sleep well.

“I thanked the players for winning the game. It was pretty dull at times but that was understandable. It was hard to get the fans motivated for a game where there was nothing on it.

“I thank the fans because there was still a decent turn-out, bearing in mind the FA Cup final was on after the game and they stuck around and clapped us at the end. Credit to them as well.

"They have been frustrated this season because we have just missed out and it is a very fine line between success and failure; if that's what finishing eighth is. I suppose for this club that’s what it is.

“We are pleased to have won but we are obviously disappointed looking at the season as a whole.”

Hessenthaler decided against making sweeping changes to his team for the last game of the season, with youngster Alex Brown making his bow late on from the substitutes bench.

“We didn’t want to change things around too much and we wanted to win the game,” he said.

“Fortunately we have won the game and the game was won by two very good goals by somebody who we have missed for much of the season.”

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