Jay Saunders wants to enjoy his post-match beer with Cray boss Neil Smith safe in the knowledge that Tonbridge are through to the FA Cup first round.

That’s the prize at stake when the sides meet in a final qualifying round tie at the Wands’ new Flamingo Park home on Saturday (3pm).

The respective managers go back years and are good friends.

Saunders is looking forward to seeing his old pal but there’s a job to do on the pitch.

Angels, ninth in National League South, are favourites against a Cray side who are bottom of the Isthmian Premier.

But anything can happen on the day, with Saunders preparing for a difficult tie.

Tonbridge’s 11-match unbeaten run ended at Slough last weekend and they’re keen to get back on the horse.

“We knew at some point we were going to lose a game, now the thing for us is to get back to winning ways as soon as possible,” said Saunders.

“We’ve got to respond and what better way to do it than the FA Cup? That’s what all our focus goes on this week.

“I’m looking forward to it, for a few reasons.

“It’s a good opportunity to get to the first round, as I’m sure Cray see it as well, and that’s what we’re aiming for.

“It’ll be good to see Smudge, someone I’ve known for a long time and Blacky (coach Lloyd Blackman) knows him well, too, having played with him at Woking.

“I was a youngster when he was at Gills, I played with him at Maidstone and when I left Maidstone, he asked me to go in and help out at Bromley.

“He was one of the first people to call me and say, ‘Come on, get out the house, come down here with us’ and I spent two or three months there with him.

“I’m sure when 3pm comes we’ll both be desperate to beat each other.

“Hopefully we get a win and I can enjoy my beer with him afterwards.”

Cray may be having a tough time in the league but they have dangerous players who Saunders knows well.

The Angels boss added: “Over the years I’ve come up against loads of their players.

“They’ve got Tom Bonner, Dave Smith, Frankie Raymond, Anthony Cook, Nyren Clunis, so lots of experience and some good youngsters.

“We’ve got one last hurdle before the first round proper and then who knows?

“But Smudge will have his team really well organised, they’ll be hardworking, they’ve got good players that have played higher levels, so it’s all about on the day.

“They’ve not had the start they’d have wanted but the club’s in a good place, with the new ground and good people behind the scenes and I’m sure they’ll pick up sooner rather than later but hopefully after we’ve played them.”

Tonbridge’s 3-1 defeat at Slough won’t live long in anyone’s memory.

The visitors were undone by two corners, either side of Liam Vincent’s free-kick equaliser, with the hosts adding an injury-time third after Angels defender Crossley Lema had been sent off.

Angels were light at the back, with defenders Jamie Fielding, Ethan Sutcliffe and Joe Tyrie out injured.

They were also missing Jason Adigun in midfield while skipper Scott Wagstaff went off with a hamstring injury that’s likely to rule him out of the Cray match.

“To be honest, it was a terrible game,” said Saunders.

“That’s not being bitter, there just wasn’t much quality in the game and I think that’s why it was decided by set-pieces.

“The third goal I don’t really take into account because we were down to 10 men in injury time and we’re trying to chase an equaliser and they break away and score.

“But the goals before that, they’ve scored from two corners and we’ve scored from a free-kick.

“We probably had the better chances but we conceded two poor goals and when you do that, you’re in for a long afternoon.

“The disappointing thing was we conceded from a corner, then we scored and they literally scored from a corner straight from kick-off.

“On another day we come away with a draw but the goals we conceded were poor.”