Tonbridge manager Jay Saunders saw his team end Ebbsfleet’s unbeaten start to the season – and then insisted the Fleet will still win the league.

Angels scored in either half through defenders Ben Swift and Sonny Miles to inflict a first reverse in all competitions on Dennis Kutrieb’s men.

With only Havant winning in the top seven in National League South there was little material damage done to Fleet’s title ambitions, and Saunders is backing a club he represented with distinction during his playing days to retain pole position.

“Ebbsfleet are for me the best team in the league and I fully expect them to go on and win it,” said Saunders. “Dennis Kutrieb has done a great job, got great players and play some great football.

“I’ve got a good record here as a manager. I won here in the league with Maidstone, beat them in the play-off final, beat them in a friendly with Margate and then won again today.

“It’s nice to come back, it’s a great club and I had some good years here as a player. I always get made to feel welcome when I come back. I fully expect them to win the league and I hope they do. They’re a very good side with a good set-up and they deserve to get out of this league.

“There was a lot of pressure on Ebbsfleet, it was like a free hit for our players. No matter what anyone says, when you’ve got that unbeaten record on your back it is pressure.

“I was delighted with the performance, delighted for the boys and for the supporters.”

Tonbridge’s win also meant Saunders avoided a fourth successive defeat for the first time in his managerial career.

He added: “I wouldn’t have cared if we were playing top or bottom, I just wanted three points.

“In our last three games it was very harsh to come back with three defeats. We were alright at Taunton but went there with no keeper, it could have gone either way against Bath and then we could have easily won 5-1 against Concord the other night.

“For me, it was about getting a reaction. I don’t think I’ve ever had four back-to-back defeats as a manager so it was really important to me that we got a win.

“Not a lot of people fancied us but I said to the boys when we went through things on Thursday night that I actually did fancy us.”

Saunders was quite open about his gameplan before the match and, true to his word, Tonbridge did not try to sit in for long periods.

They posed a threat on the counter with Joe Turner and Louis Collins lively in attacking areas while the experience of the likes of Scott Wagstaff was crucial as the Fleet looked to find a way through.

“I felt we needed to start well and on the front foot and we obviously did that,” said Saunders.

“Once we went 1-0, I felt we sat a little bit deep but that’s natural when you play a good side. It was a poor set piece to concede the equaliser and we had to defend for our lives at times but we always felt we could hurt them on the counter.

“We had to take our chances and we did that. Could we be better? 100 per cent. I’d like us to be better on the ball but you have to remember we were against a full-time side and we’re a new squad, a new management team, a new everything. It’s a good three points.

“We only had 12 players training on Thursday night so we were trying to work on things. Jamie Fielding I had penned down as right wing-back but then we changed it and put him in as a centre-back and the three of them were excellent.

“Jonny in goal made some great saves, one of them off his chin I don’t think he knew much about! But at times, against great sides, you need that bit of luck and we had that, but I’m a big believer you make your own luck. Our front two worked their socks off at the start, everyone stepped up and I’m pleased for them.

“When you play a full-time side, a lot of it is tiredness. You spend a lot of time without the ball so when you give the players instructions, it’s up to them to carry it out. They’ve done everything we asked and then you’ve got the likes of Scott Wagstaff and Ben Swift blocking shots and showing that desire.”

• Report: Ebbsfleet 1-2 Tonbridge

Both goals came from Tonbridge defenders, including a first goal in Angels colours for Swift.

“I give Swifty stick all the time!” smiled Saunders. “He played for me for two years at Margate and didn’t score all of last season, then he does that in a big game so I’m delighted for him.

“Sonny was excellent, I don’t know what he was doing there at that point. They’ve been excellent defensively but the other side of it is to come up with a goal and we needed that.”