Gillingham Club Captain Ian Cox was delighted to get on the scoresheet against Port Vale and admits he is enjoying being back in the side.
The 36 year-old defender opened the scoring with a 37th minute goal and was pleased with his performance against Port Vale: "It feels good. It is nice to get back on the scoresheet as nowadays, I don't get on it too often. That is my third goal this season and I am over the moon. All I had to do was get my head on it and direct it to goal. Thankfully, it went in. There were a lot of good balls put into the box and I think it was just a case of making a connection. Over the course of the season, there have been a lot of good balls put into the box and we haven't really made the most of it. It was good that we could capitalise on some of the good crosses that we coming in.
"I am disappointed we didn't manage to get a clean sheet. At three-nil up, we thought we've got them three goals, and our game plan was to keep a clean sheet. That is the major disappointment for us. We weren't really troubled at the back but they have ended up with two goals. It is a bitter pill to swallow but we are happy with the three points.
"We were cruising and were untroubled at the back. They have some half-chances but I think Simon Royce come in and did well. We got to three-nil up and we got a bit complacent and basically took our foot off the pedal. If we had kept on doing what we had done in the first half, as well as the early part of the second half, we could have gone on to win it more comfortably. It wasn't to be and they made a game of it by getting themselves back in, especially after that good goal. We managed to grind it out and get the three points."
The Gills are destined for a mid-table finish but because promotion and relegation are no longer on the cards, Cox admits there are still points to play for and he expects the team to continue to grind out results: "We've all got jobs to do. Everybody comes in here, they know what they have got to do and they get on with it. There are two games to go and I know that even thought we can't go up or down, there are still six points to play for. We still have to do our jobs to the best of our capabilities.
"It has been a bit disappointing and frustrating with the fact that I wasn't getting in the team. In fairness to Leon Johnson, Brent Sancho and Ben Chorley, they have done well so I didn't really have any cause for complaint. I am old enough and experienced enough to know that sometimes you just have to sit back and wait for your opportunity to arrive again. When it does, it is a case of can you take it and make a difference?
"Competition keeps everyone on their toes. There is no animosity between the boys and it is healthy competition. That is good and nobody can afford to rest on their laurels or get complacent. If you do, there is somebody coming in to take your place."
The veteran centre-half is out of contract at the end of the current season but Cox admits that he is currently focusing on the next game and enjoying playing: "I'm feeling good in myself. Sometimes they say that the Lord works in mysterious ways and I got sent off back in January and have spent a couple of months out. I've felt fresh and really good and long may it continue. I've been quite lucky as I've come back in and haven't felt that bad at all. The Bristol City game was probably the hardest one as it was two games in three days. That was quite hard to recover from but I don't have that much of a problem recovering; I have been quite blessed in that way.
"We'll have to just wait and see what happens. If it's the Good One above's will, then it will be. I'm taking it just one game at a time at the moment and enjoying it. The situation will get resolved soon, one way or another. I don't know what is going to happen but will just try and do my best. You have to give yourself a chance but if it is not meant to be, when one door closes, another one opens.
"I am 36 now and for me to be playing at this stage of my career, you have to enjoy it. Each game for me could be my last game. It's the same for everyone but I will just keep on playing until the body tells me otherwise.
"I didn't start playing until quite late so I have had a bit of extra-time. I was 23 years old and playing for Carshalton and working as an insurance salesman when I got the opportunity to play for a professional club. Somebody like Andy Hessenthaler is an excellent role model for someone like me. He has a wonderful work-ethic and is excellent in training. He has really looked after himself and has been a good servant wherever he has played; he did so well for the Gills and Watford."