Colchester United’s young centre-half, Frankie Kent, has had a bitter-sweet season, although he hopes it will end on a positive note at fourth-placed Exeter City this afternoon.

Kent has played more games than in any previous season, and today he should rattle up his 41st appearance of the campaign, and his 37th in League Two.

That compares favourably with the previous four seasons, when the ex-U’s trainee totalled just 50 league games in all.

However, the 22-year-old was frustrated to miss out on six games this spring, after losing his place following a minor injury suffered in the warm-up at Morecambe (on March 20), and is obviously crestfallen that the Essex club missed out on a play-off berth.

“There’s disappointment around the club that we have not made the play-offs, that was always our target and we have fallen short of it,” rued Kent.

“It’s been down to small margins in most games, either not managing to nick a goal here or there, or conceding bad goals at certain times.

“Overall, I think we have done well defensively this season (just 51 goals conceded in 45 league games), and we had a good chance of making the top seven, up until a few weeks ago.

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“We then lost a few games (1-0 defeats to the lowly trio of Crewe, Barnet and Yeovil in a four-week period). We had been on a good run up until then, so that was frustrating. Overall, we could have done better this season,” added Kent.

With regards his own displays, Kent said: “It’s frustrating, missing a few games, because I had played virtually every game until then (Morecambe). I missed seven games, before coming back last weekend.

“It was a hard one for me to take, but another experience for me to take forward. You can’t sulk, because it’s all about the good of the team, and I’ve been here a long time now.

“I think League Two has actually been harder and more competitive this season, because of the increased number of teams vying for the play-offs.

“A few other teams have learnt about the league, and the different formations. We played three at the back for most of last year, but teams have got wise to that. There’s a lot for us to build on.”