Steve Lovell felt Gillingham's pre-season friendlies on Saturday served their purpose.

The Gills boss sent one team to play Dover while he led a second group at Ebbsfleet.

It finished 2-0 to Fleet at Stonebridge Road but Lovell was happy enough afterwards.

He said: "It was a good workout for the XI that we put out there.

"Ebbsfleet are a very good side and they'll do well again in the National League. We didn't want to lose but it's a pre-season game and we got what we wanted out of it.

"The majority of the players got 90 minutes. It's about getting the minutes in their legs now ready for two weeks' time."

Ebbsfleet and Dover were Kent's top-ranked non-league clubs last season and Lovell hopes the county will host Football League derbies in the future.

"I’d love it to be like that, with all the teams in League football," he said. "That’s something we’d like.

"We always like to have local derbies. It’s good for the supporters and it's good for the area the area.

"Ebbsfleet have had a good couple of years and they’re moving in the right direction. They did well and gave us a really good game, which we knew they would.

"The second goal was a worldie by the fella (Ebou Adams) but the first one was a sloppy goal to give away.

"We had chances as well when we could have scored and made it tighter than it was but the boys have had minutes under their belt and they're ready now to push on on Tuesday.