Defender Simon King made his comeback in a Gillingham shirt today as they drew with a West Ham side at Priestfield.

Playing his first game for The Gills since his loan spell at Plymouth Argyle came to an end, King skippered the side that drew 2-2 with Ian Hendon’s development side.

Andy Hessenthaler was also able to give starts to Dennis Oli and Jack Payne as they make their way back from injuries, with Stefan Payne, Lewis Montrose and Paulo Gazzaniga given much needed time on the pitch.

West Ham took the lead in the behind closed doors friendly in the 20th minute with Paraguayan Brian Montenegro heading home Dom Vose’s corner.

It took until the 54th minute of the game for The Gills to equalise with Lewis Montrose playing the ball out to the right for Dennis Oli to sweep a cross into the box for Stefan Payne to stab home.

It was Oli that found the net just eight minutes later when Alex Brown played the striker through and his instinctive lob of the keeper saw the ball bounce over the line.

A raft of substitutions then followed before West Ham snatched a last minute equaliser with sub keeper Daren Hawkes pulling off a fine save from Pelly Ruddock only to see the ball fall kindly to Dan Potts who slammed the ball home.

All in all the game will have served its purpose for Gillingham with the likes of King, Jack Payne and Oli all putting themselves in contention for a place in the squad to travel to Bournemouth on Saturday for the FA Cup First Round tie.

Gillingham line up: Gazzaniga (Hawkes H/T), Evans (Hare 83), Essam, King, Carter, Rance, Montrose (Hessenthaler 81), J Payne (Brunt 72), Brown (Dack 80), Oli (Haysman 72), S Payne.

West Ham line up: Kurucz (Larkins H/T), Driver (Chambers 81), Brown, Moncur (Fanimo 81), Demel (Young H/T), Potts, Lee, Wearon (Ruddick 77), Vose (Turgott 62), Montenegro, Montano.