Gillingham conceded two late goals and lost their final home pre-season friendly despite a promising performance.

The Gills looked to be heading to a well-earned victory thanks to Matt Lawrence’s header in the first half.

Grant McCann’s free-kick made it all-square with 10 minutes left and in injury time Scott Griffiths netted the winner.

Gillingham started the match on the back-foot against Peterborough but as the first half wore on they began to dominate.

Former Posh duo Charlie Lee and Chris Whelpdale had the majority of the early Gillingham chances against their Championship guests.

After 20 minutes of soaking up the pressure from the visitors they finally broke out of their shell once Whelpdale forced a diving save from keeper Paul Jones.

Five minutes later the same player stabbed a shot against the post. Whelpdale continued to be in the thick of the action, sending a header narrowly wide, after Lawrence’s long ball forward had created an opening.

Goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga started in goal, after original starter Ross Flitney got stuck in traffic, and the Argentinian showed his class with a sprawling one-handed save to deny Nicky Ajose.

The Gills ended the half with a deserved lead when Lawrence nodded home Danny Spiller’s corner.

Seven changes at the break saw Dennis Oli return from a back injury to spearhead the attack, with Luke Rooney and Whelpdale working either side in a 4-5-1 formation.

With an hour gone Peterborough’s Chatham-born striker George Boyd drilled a shot an inch wide.

With 64 minutes gone Lee should have doubled the advantage but the midfielder’s shot was beaten clear by Jones after he broke in the clear.

For the final 20 minutes the Gills went with two strikers upfront with trialist Matthew Paterson linking up with Oli in attack. Paterson didn’t have long to impress and he managed just a glancing header at goal, with Jones dealt with comfortably.

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson was aggrieved at not being able to re-introduce a subbed player, after David Ball hobbled off injured, leaving them down to 10 men for the final 20 minutes after already introducing all of their substitutes.

Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler opted to even things up by bringing Chris Whelpdale off, making it 10 vs 10 for the final stages.

The numerous changes had disrupted play and on 81 minutes the scores were all-square when McCann drove a free-kick in off the post from around 30 yards.

Barry Fuller was only denied a late winner when Jones tipped his powerful long-range effort over the bar.

With 91 minutes gone Griffiths smashed home a winner for Peterborough after Paul Taylor laid it off on the edge of the box.

Gills: Gazzaniga (Flitney 46mins), Martin (Jackman 46mins), Frampton (Davies 79mins), Fish (Fuller 46mins), Lawrence (Richards 46mins), J Payne (Paterson 67mins), Spiller (Rooney 46mins), Montrose (Weston 46mins), Lee (Rance 76mins), Whelpdale – withdrawn 76mins, Kedwell (Oli 46mins).

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