Gillingham continued their pre-season build-up with an energy-sapping encounter in blistering heat at Hayes Lane.

Andy Hessenthaler lined his team up in a 4-4-2 formation with Kevin Maher playing the holding role in a first-half midfield diamond. While summer signing Andy White made his first appearance alongside Dennis Oli in attack.

Ten minutes had passed before Whites keeper Craig Holloway was forced to make the first save of the half, Luke Rooney collecting a lose ball and letting fly with a snapshot from the left of the box that was well held by the Bromley keeper.

Four minutes later Dennis Oli teed up Barry Fuller to send a low drive fizzing goalwards from just outside the area but Holloway saved comfortably, diving low to his right hand side.

Midway through the half, Chris Palmer sent a curling free-kick scudding over the bar from wide on the right as Gillingham looked the stronger of the two sides but offered little in terms of attacking threat.

Gills youngsters Jack Payne and Luke Rooney linked up well on the half hour with Rooney surging to the edge of the box before laying off for Payne to attempt a chip of the keeper, the idea was right but not the execution as Jack's finish drifted the wrong side of the near post.

Bromley's best chances both fell to former Gills youth team player Ashley Carew who sent a free-kick high over the bar and dragged a low shot well wide of Julian's left hand upright five minutes before the break. In truth Alan Julian was little more than a spectator for most of the half.

HT 0-0

Both sides opted for a near complete change of personnel at half time, trialists Serge Makofo and Fola Onibuje lining up in attack while Reading youngster Oliver Kelly took up the right back role and ex-Gill Craig Stone came on in midfield.

However, it was Bromley who settled into their stride the quicker and, in contrast to the first half, enjoyed the balance of play. Alan Julian was finally tested by a Jon Scarborough header on 52 minutes then moments later scrambled to stop Nic McDonnell's far post header on the line.

The hosts finally broke the deadlock in the 66^th as Nic McDonnell robbed Conner Essam on the edge of the box and rifled a fine low finish beyond Julian and into the far corner to give Bromley a deserved lead.

Gillingham were dealt a further blow soon after as first year professional Dean Rance injured his right ankle following a collision with keeper Holloway. He was unable to continue and was replaced by Dubai based trialist Youssef Bourezghi.

Bromley doubled their advantage in the 73^rd minute, a deep free-kick from the right fell to Jon Scarborough who powered a sweet right-foot volley into the roof of the net, from an unmarked position at the back post.

Five minutes later Gillingham reduced the deficit after good work down the left by Andy Barcham. The pacy winger cut in to the byline before picking out the imposing figure of 6 foot 6 forward Fola Onibuje who headed firmly into the roof of the net.

Three minutes from time Serge Makofo should have squared the scoreline after turning the home defence inside out with a series of feints on the edge of the box, sadly after creating space to shoot, he fired straight at sub-keeper Paul Agu who saved comfortably.

At the death the Gills went closer still, as Barcham sent Makofo through on the left of goal but, as he shaped to shoot, Scarborough lunged in bravely to slice the ball behind for a corner and secure a win for Bromley.

Gillingham's next fixture sees Andy Hessenthaler take his side to Dartford for a friendly at Princes Park on Tuesday evening, kick-off 7.45pm.

Gillingham 1^st Half: Alan Julian, Barry Fuller, John Nutter, Tony Sinclair, Josh Gowling, Kevin Maher, Jack Payne, Chris Palmer, Dennis Oli, Luke Rooney, Andy White.

Bromley 1^st Half: Craig Holloway, Arron Fray, Harrison Dunk, Ben Jordan, Jerome Sobers, Reece Boyle, Ashley Carew, Luke I'Anson, Nic Mc Donnell, Paul Vines, Ryan Dolby.

Gillingham 2^nd Half: Alan Julian, Oliver Kelly, Mark Bentley, Connor Essam, Danny Jackman, Craig Stone, Curtis Weston, Dean Rance (Youssef Bourezghi 69), Andy Barcham, Serge Makofo, Fola Onibuje.