Nayron Nosworthy doubled his tally of career goals as he helped Gillingham to a last day win over Crystal Palace, as the Gills finished the season in 11th spot, a club high.
It betters their two previous seasons in Division One, having finished 13th and 12th respectively in their first two campaigns since being promoted three years ago.
Nosworthy, 21, proved Andy Hessenthaler's switch was a success as he darted through what resembled a Crystal Palace defence to score twice in the first five minutes.
Latvian keeper Alex Kolinko had already kept Palace level with fine tip over to deny Paul Smith, who was carried off on a stretcher with ten minutes left following a collision between the pair.
He had his right leg encased in a protective plastic bandage but fears that he had broken his leg proved unfounded but he faces the summer break recovering from a badly twisted knee.
Nosworthy fired home the first with a close-range left-foot shot and then stepped over outstretched Palace legs to fire home an angled drive for the second.
Palace looked shell-shocked but gradually got themselves into the game and Dougie Freedman pulled one back from the spot on the half hour.
Referee Michael Jones, who had an undistinguished first game in charge at Priestfield, pointed to the spot as Tommy Black went down in a tussle with Gillingham wing-back Nicky Southall.
He waved away furious Gillingham protests, leaving Freedman to convert from the spot.
Palace had plenty of possession and Gillingham were hard-pressed to keep them out as they looked for an equaliser.
Simon Osborn fired an effort just wide on the stroke of half time and then Dele Adebola went close but was denied by good covering by Southall and Barry Ashby.
Palace had Hayden Mullins and Darren Powell both booked for dissent and then Black and Palace boss Hessenthaler followed them into the notebook following a flare-up.
Freedman was denied a possible Palace equaliser by a fine save from Jason Brown with 11 minutes left and the game was a competitive affair when many people turned up believing it would be a final day stroll in the sunshine.
Now both clubs will look ahead to next season. Hessenthaler has decided to carry on playing for at least one more season and will be 38 on August 17 while Palace owner Simon Jordan is looking for his sixth manager since taking control at Selhurst Park.
Coaches Steve Kember and Terry Bullivant want the job but whether they have done enough remains to be seen. Kember admits Palace have under-achieved in the league and believes it could be a very busy close season at Selhurst Park.