By Luke Cawdell

Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler heaped praise on new signing Stefan Payne after the striker netted the winner in the club's 2-1 pre-season victory against Ebbsfleet on Saturday.

In a rough-and-tumble match, the Gills were given a good test and Hessenthaler was pleased to see his new signing from Fulham, pictured, turn in another impressive display.

"Stefan has been fantastic and he deserved his goal," said the Gills boss.

"He’s only 18 and can only get better.

"We are working on him and he is looking a talent. I’ve been really pleased with him."

Payne played the full 90 minutes and also made a 20-minute appearance the previous evening at Bishop’s Stortford.

"We used the opportunity in the two games to give players 90 minutes and that was the exercise," said Hessenthaler. "We got a lot out of it on Friday and again on Saturday it was a real test of the players’ fitness.

"These games are always going to be competitive. It was a good game, a good test for us."

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