Gillingham midfielder Jonny Williams is enjoying life under new manager Gareth Ainsworth after a frustrating season at the club

Jonny Williams picked up the man-of-the-match champagne on Tuesday night after coming out of one of his toughest periods as a professional footballer.

Williams started only three times during ex-head coach Mark Bonner’s time at the helm and had to settle for a handful of substitute appearances from previous boss John Coleman, but it’s a fresh beginning for the former Wales international, getting a new lease of life under Gareth Ainsworth.

The 31-year-old has started both games under new boss Ainsworth and was the driving force behind Gillingham’s dominant midweek showing against Colchester United.

Williams said: “It's been a frustrating season for me, as a group and individually. I think I only started three games before the new manager came in.

“I've been fit pretty much the whole season. For me, it's probably been one of the toughest of my career.

“You've just got to stay ready. You've got to keep training hard, and you've got to keep believing you're good enough.

“When you get the opportunity, you've got to do your best. Try and stay in the team and help the team.

“I'm happy I was able to do that and repay the fans' faith in me. Hopefully, it's the start of something. The gaffer wants to build something here. It's been a great start.

“He's been brilliant, to be honest. I'd heard lots of good things. I spoke to players that have played with him and managed them players as well. People spoke so highly of him.

“We've only had them in for just under a week. Him and Dobbo (the assistant boss Richard Dobson) have been brilliant, not just as managers but as people. They seem like top, top people.

“It's great. You want to work with people like that. The boys are buzzing. You want to leave everything out there for him as well.