By Luke Cawdell

Tommy Warrilow hopes his Tonbridge team have learned the lessons from a rocky summer as they embark on an historic season.

The Angels started their pre-season campaign with a heavy defeat to Brentford and ended it last weekend with a 2-1 reverse at Maidstone.

Warrilow’s side travel to Maidenhead on Saturday for their first game at Conference level.

"It wasn’t a good performance (against Maidstone) and it was a negative way to end the pre-season," Warrilow (pictured) said.

"Going into the final pre-season game you expect a lot more from the lads and they were given a rocket after that. We don’t want to see that kind of performance again, it’s not acceptable and I apologise to the fans.

"There was no work-rate, no desire and we looked lethargic. I am hoping to use that as an example of what not to do and I would rather it was last weekend than this one."

Warrilow’s side will be playing in the Blue Square Bet South after promotion from the Ryman League Premier Division last season.

"It’s been three-and-a-half years of hard graft to get here and we’re not just going to turn up and make up the numbers," he said.

Frannie Collin (ankle) and Lewis Taylor (knee) are doubts but the good news is the threat of a possible throat infection spreading through the camp has subsided.