Gillingham stepped up their pre-season preparations with a 1-1 draw against fellow League One club Southend United on Friday night.

First half goals from Isaac Hutchinson and Mikael Mandron meant the spoils were shared at Priestfield in a game which featured a trialist and three new signings for Gillingham, played less than 24 hours before the side is in action again against Stevenage on Saturday.

Isaac Hutchinson had put the Essex team ahead early on after good work from Charlie Kelman, however Mikael Mandron, playing his first game since signing permanently for the club after a period on trial, equalised for The Gills to ensure the game was to end even in Medway.

Gillingham’s new signings were in action straight away, with Mandron and on-loan Watford forward Alex Jakubiak linking up well on the right-hand side in the opening couple of minutes. The latter fired home after a nice pass from Mandron, but the referee adjudged he had handled the ball in the buildup and ruled the goal out for offside.

Defenders had to be alert at both ends of the pitch early on to cut out balls over the top from midfield – Max Ehmer chopped a looping through ball from the Southend midfield before a Southend defender headed wide of his own goal after skillful play from Mark Marshall on the right flank for Gillingham.

Once again Mikael Mandron proved to be a nuisance for defenders, and he headed over from another Marshall cross as Gillingham kept the pressure on the away side early doors.

Alex Jakubiak had to gel with his new team mates quickly after only signing for Gillingham on Friday, but he was alert to play in fellow new man Mark Marshall, who, frustrated, dragged a good opportunity wide.

Southend had their first real sight of goal when Isaac Hutchinson fired way over from distance just before the 20 minute mark, but, a few moments later, Hutchinson was alert to put the away side ahead against the run of play.

A long ball into the channel looked routine to defender for Gills captain on the night Max Ehmer, however the German slipped which allowed Charlie Kelman to capitalise. The 17-year-old carried the ball into the box, assessed his options, and squared his pass to an unmarked Hutchinson who passed the ball into an empty net with Gills goalkeeper Jack Bonham covering his near post.

Gillingham didn’t let the goal set them back, though, and they were pushing again after more good work from Mark Marshall, who set up Lee Hodson for a swinging cross that was headed just wide by former Southend man Stuart O’Keefe.

Gillingham continued to pepper the away goal, and probably should have been level just after the half hour mark following good work from Willock to find Max Ehmer who, still up from a free-kick moments before, fired straight at Nathan Bishop from just yards out.

On 40 minutes Gillingham got their goal and it was new signing Mikael Mandron who delivered. Once again, the home side worked the ball well on the wing, this time Regan Charles-Cook and Stuart O’Keefe exchanging passes. It was O’Keefe who whipped the ball in and Mandron peeled off his marker to head home past Bishop, who had come to claim the ball but misjudged the flight.

Gillingham’s new number 9 was involved again moments after the goal, but couldn’t add to his tally, missing another inswinging cross by a mere few feet.

Steve Evans decided against making any changes at the half time break, more than likely with Saturday’s fixture at Stevenage in mind, and Matty Willock, who had missed the last three matches with illness, had a chance to put Gillingham ahead almost straight away when he broke free from his man, however he tried to play in Mandron and gifted the ball straight to a defender.

The Gills’ latest signing, Alec Jakubiak, hadn’t trained with the club yet and was forced to sit in traffic for three hours trying to get to the game on Friday, and his rustiness perhaps showed when he had a good opportunity to find the net after more good work from Mandron, yet dragged his shot onto the outside of the post and wide.

Jack Bonham was called into action in the Gillingham goal on the hour mark when he had to be alert to stop a thunderous strike at his near post, and at the other end Jakubiak should have scored after a good turn to lose his man, yet he was denied by another good stop from Bishop.

Frenchman Mandron wasn’t giving up the win without a fight as the game began to die – his shot was blocked with ten minutes to go after good link up play on the edge of the box between himself and academy wide man Ben Allen.

Southend were still giving it a go themselves, too, but tired legs showed when McLaughlin sliced wide following a good pass from Sam Mantom.

With Allen on the field Gillingham had another form of attack in their ranks – a long throw – and almost stole the win in the final moments when a missile was flicked on by Connor Ogilvie, but no blue shirt was able to pick up the loose ball.

The final whistle blew not long after and the sides were forced to share the metaphorical points, however Gillingham manager Steve Evans is likely to be pleased with the run out his side achieved and the competition they faced.

Gillingham’s first team will wrap up their pre-season preparations on Saturday at Stevenage before travelling to Doncaster on August 3 to kick off their 2019/20 League One campaign.

Gillingham: Bonham, Hodson (Woods 69), O’Keefe, Ehmer, Ogilvie, Willock, Mandron, Charles-Cook, Fuller, Marshall (Allen 69), Jakubiak (Trialist 69).

Subs not used: Walsh, Garmston, Jones, Tucker, List, Cissé, Oldaker, Ndjoli, Hanlan.

Goals: Mandron 40

Southend United: Bishop, Howard (Taylor 81), White, Kiernan, Trialist (Goodship 83), Trialist (McLaughlin 66), Yearwood (Trialist 60), Hyam (Mantom 66), Hutchinson, Robinson, Kelman (Humphreys 71).

Subs not used: Oxley.

Goals: Hutchinson 22

Attendance: N/A

Referee: Mr C Brook

Assistants: Mr O Jackson and Mr N Dunn

Fourth official: Mr M Ryan