Goalkeeper Stuart Nelson finished the season pleased with his own personal efforts, ranking it as one of his best.

It was a tough end to the campaign for the Gills, going eight without a win and missing out on the play-offs, but Nelson was a consistent performer throughout.

He ended the season receiving the man-of-the-match accolade after another impressive showing, against Millwall.

Reacting to their defeat on Sunday, Nelson said: “It is disappointing because everyone could see we were knocking on the door but it wasn’t to be.

“But it is not on that one game, it hasn’t been a great finish, if the season finished two months ago we would be up automatic.

“We beat Peterborough and went top not that long ago and then the results since then haven’t been to the standard which we have set ourselves. It is a marathon, not a sprint, and maybe we run out of energy come the end of the season.

“The save I made on the (first) goal I made that almost identical save against Colchester and it is cleared. This time I make that same save and it ends in our net.

“In the last few games the ball hasn’t been dropping for us.

“When you are on a good run of form, everything drops for you, that is why teams down the bottom can’t get out of it. When you are flying and everyone is confident and positive, things happen.

“The boys here are young and positive, but we haven’t had the breaks. That first goal typified it.”

Reflecting on his own season, Nelson said: “I have to look after my end and give the boys a platform to build on.

“If I can make those saves like I did first half, keeping the score 0-0, then we are still in the game and one goal wins it; that is my job.

“I can’t do anything about the goals at the other end. I can’t put the ball in the net. You are helpless. I have to look after my performances and I have been happy.

“I would say it was one of my best, if not the best season, in terms of performances.

“It might not be the most amount of clean sheets, but for being solid, with the least amount of mistakes, making the right decisions and not looking shaky, the boys haven’t had to worry about me. They can think ‘Nels has got his stuff sorted’.

“I am pleased and comfortable with what I have done this year. It has been a disappointed end but sometimes you have to take a step back, look in the mirror and see what you have done.”

Nelson will be hoping to have done enough to earn a new deal – something boss Justin Edinburgh has already hinted at – and the keeper is ready for a busy summer.

“My work starts on Tuesday,” he said.

“I will have a day off, I will then kick on and I will start training.

“I don’t like to stop. I will rest for two weeks and have a holiday but I want to be fitter and stronger for when I come back. I want to hit the ground running when I come back.”