Stuart Nelson was Gillingham’s hero on Tuesday night – but was left stranded when the team bus went home without him.

Gillingham’s game at Colchester United in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy went to penalties after the tie ended 3-3 in normal time.

Goalkeeper Nelson was making his 100 appearance for the club and celebrated by saving two penalties during the shoot-out and then scoring the winning one himself.

He was a surprise inclusion in the team having spent the previous two months out injured.

But he ended up getting a lift home with staff from the Kent Messenger after the bus departed while he was talking to the media.

Team-mate Jermaine McGlashan tweeted: “Stuart Nelson may have missed the team bus and joined the media car to get home but what a return!”

Nelson was voted player-of-the-year by Gills fans last season and his comeback from injury on Tuesday night was certainly memorable.

“I worked so hard when I was injured and you do it for days like these,” said Nelson.

Read his reaction from Tuesday's game here.

He then had to make the short journey back down the A12 alongside the KM Group photographer and Gills reporter.

KM’s Luke Cawdell said: “Poor Stuart was getting plenty of banter from the lads on the bus by text message but nothing was going to spoil his night. He left us in Brentwood with a massive grin on his face.”

Read the match report from Gills' win at Colchester here.