An injury to captain Barry Fuller overshadowed Gillingham’s victory over Ebbsfleet on Saturday.

Fuller (pictured) limped off after just 19 minutes with a knock to his knee and an early diagnosis suggests he could be in a race to be fit for the start of the season.

The Gills had sealed their fifth straight win when young striker Stefan Payne pounced with 12 minutes left to hand the Gills victory in a whole-hearted match against non-league Ebbsfleet at Stonebridge Road.

Once more there was no Cody McDonald as he is already on the injured list. There are hopes he will be fit to face Hearts at Priestfield on Thursday.

Gillingham took the lead on 13 minutes in spectacular fashion as Chris Palmer smashed a shot home from distance..

Palmer, who was playing on the right side of a three-man attack, netted on the volley from 25-yards out, with the ball hitting the bar and going in off keeper Preston Edwards. It was Palmer’s fourth goal of the pre-season.

Fleet came alive in the second half and soon after Michael West put a header wide they levelled the scores.

Scott Ginty had a weak effort and it fell to Callum Willock, who fired home low from close-range past Alan Julian with 54 minutes gone.

The Gills re-took the lead on 78 minutes when Palmer’s cross found Mark Bentley. He headed the ball back across to Payne and he finished from close range.

Keeper Lance Cronin was introduced with seven minutes remaining and got chance to wave goodbye to the Ebbsfleet fans. He made a name for himself at Stonebridge Road but is set to pen a deal at Gillingham on Monday. The home fans gave him a warm send-off.

Gills: Julian (Cronin 83mins), Fuller (Lough 19mins (Gowling 55mins)), Nutter, Sinclair, Bentley, J Payne, Weston, Jackman, S Payne, Barcham, Palmer. Subs: White, Rooney, Essam.

Fleet: Edwards, Plumaine (Sealey 49mins), Easton, West, Marwa, Stone, Duncan (Carew 49mins), Willock, Ginty (Phipp 75mins), Pooley, Loraine. Subs: Henry, Sherlock, Simpson, Dion, Williams, Banim.

Attendance: 1,044