Ebbsfleet United 1 Gillingham 2: Pre-season friendly from the Morrow Stadium, Stonebridge Road

Gillingham ended their pre-season campaign with a comeback win at fellow Kent side Ebbsfleet United.

Olly Box opened the scoring for Fleet but goals either side of the break from Gillingham forward Damien Theodore and defender Nelson Khumbeni turned it around.

Friday night’s game was a final chance for both teams to have a runout ahead of their competitive seasons starting.

Fleet begin their season next Saturday in the National South, away at Slough Town, while the Gills begin with a home tie in the League Cup where they entertain Luton Town.

The Gills split their squad in two for the day, with one team having a runout earlier at Priestfield in a behind-closed-doors match against Ipswich Town under-21s, allowing players to get 90 minutes.

Senior players Robbie McKenzie, Ronan Hale, Will Goodwin, Liam Gordon and Kadeem Harris were involved in that match.

Gillingham added a couple of new faces to their ranks ahead of the final pre-season games - taking Ainsworth’s summer signings up to nine.

Nick Freeman had already played on trial before agreeing a permanent switch while former Fulham and Southampton youngster Sam Tabares has also joined. Both started against Fleet, playing on opposite flanks as the wing-backs.

Bradley Dack, Garath McCleary, Armani Little, Cameron Antwi and goalkeeper Ollie Wright remained out. Young keeper Lennon MacLorg was missing.

Unfortunately, Tabares lasted less than 20 minutes, coming off with a twinge after putting in a cross, ending a lively first showing for the Gills prematurely.

It’s been a busy summer for Josh Wright’s men, Fleet playing their 10th pre-season game.

The club’s preparations for a new season have been overshadowed in recent days with the news that their much-anticipated stadium