PAWEL ABBOTT has learned a huge amount this season - both when he's been on the pitch, and when he's been watching his teammates from the sidelines.

Town's top scorer has netted 24 times, having failed to start 12 of the 47 matches so far, leading fans to wonder what he might achieve if he can lead the line week in, week out.

The player himself certainly believes he can improve on this season's achievements.

And he plans to show the supporters by making a major contribution to a promotion charge next time around.

"This has been my first season of regular first-team football," explains the 23-year-old former Preston man, whose appearance against Colchester last Saturday was his 44th of the season, 59th in total for Town, and 109th in a career which started with a League debut at Oxford while on loan to Bury on the opening day of the 2002-03 season.

"I've been in and out of the starting XI, and to be honest, I've let myself down with a few of my performances.

"I've certainly learned a lot, both from playing, not playing and being on the training ground, and I think that goes for a lot of the younger players.

"Because we're disappointed our late bid for the play-offs has failed, it's easy to overlook the fact that we've come up to a higher level and more than held our own.

"We've shown what we are capable of and now we have to get our heads down, have a good pre-season, and carry on from where we have left off from next August onwards."

Had it not been for Liam Chilvers' last-gasp leveller in the 2-2 Galpharm draw with Colchester, Town would have been heading down to Brentford today still having an outside chance of making the top six.

"It was vital we beat them last week, and even though we drew, it felt like a defeat," added Abbott, who while born in York, was brought up in Poland and started his career in the youth ranks at LKS Lodz.

"Back in the dressing room, nobody spoke for about 10 minutes.

"We knew we had thrown the game away and we were gutted.

"Giving away late goals has been a feature of our season, and we obviously have to tighten up on that aspect.

"To win promotion, you have to win games like Saturday's, and that's no disrespect to Colchester, who are a very solid and well-organised side.

"We'll be playing them again next season now, so at least we'll have the chance for revenge."

Before 2005-06, Town have three further League I games, with today's trip down the M1 to Griffin Park followed by the final home game against Swindon next Saturday and the trip to Wrexham on May 7.

And having scored in the last two matches, Abbott is keen to continue the trend.

While former Poland Under 21 player Abbott netted against Colchester, his 40th career goal incidentally, with a quickly- taken free-kick which caught opposition goalkeeper Aidan Davison completely unawares, his effort in the previous week's 3-1 home win over Doncaster was from a more rare source - his head!

"I don't get too many of those, so it was nice to prove to myself I can do it," laughed the man who latched onto Andy Booth's neat flick.

Booth, of course, is a master of the aerial game, and Abbott is keen to pay tribute to a vastly experienced teammate who proved his flexibility by filling in at centre-half last Saturday.

"He's a great bloke to play alongside, and whatever he has to say I just listen and take on board," said Abbott.

"His aerial game, particularly, is top quality, and he showed that by making some great headed clearances in defence.

"His experience and advice has been a major benefit to me, and I think all the lads would say the same thing.

"He has big respect because he has been there and done it at the highest level of the English game, and his goal record is one to be proud of.

"To be the fourth-highest scorer in the club's history is something to be admired, and I'm sure there will be a few more from him yet."