Tonbridge play their final pre-season game of the summer this Saturday and boss Jay Saunders can’t wait to get it out of the way.

An away game at Isthmian Premier side Wingate & Finchley rounds off the friendly matches for the Angels ahead of their National League South campaign.

“I am not a fan of pre-season, never was as a player or a manager,” he told Angels TV.

“You just want the real stuff to start and I can’t wait. I have been in teams who have won every pre-season game and gone on and lost the first five, I have had the reverse.

“We will be ready for Weymouth away (on the opening day of the season) and we are looking forward to it but Wingate away (this Saturday) should be a good game on a good pitch and one that will be a test for us.”

All seven of Tonbridge’s friendlies have been away while a 3G pitch is being installed at Longmead. The laying of the artificial surface started this week.

On Saturday, Saunders’ side took on Margate and won the match 3-1, thanks to goals from Sonny Miles, Tom Parkinson and a trialist known as “TQ”.

Saunders admitted his side’s levels dipped on the day but he was without a couple of regulars and also saw centre-back Ben Swift come off early with an ankle injury, replaced by Miles with 25 minutes played.

Goalkeeper Jonathan Henly was unavailable so Saunders borrowed Maidstone’s under-23 stopper Harley Earle for the match. Tommie Fagg was missing the action, too, with a groin injury.

Saunders will be hoping for a better display this weekend after admitting they weren’t at their best against Margate.

He said: “We had some enforced changes but if you are not playing well and win the game, even though it is pre-season, it’s still nice.

“You have to give Margate credit, they had a good first half.

“We took too long to get going, took too long on the ball, didn’t move it quick enough, which was frustrating, but we were clinical when the ball was in and around the box, which was good.

“I felt there were too many off it, individually, but as a team, we found a way to win the game, which was good.

“Individually we were below the standards we have set but we won the game. Pre-season is about minutes and fitness but at the same time winning and losing are habits and, if we can get the winning habit, then that is a positive.”

Tonbridge Angels are holding an open day this Sunday.

Saunders and his players will be on hand to meet the fans from 12pm-2pm, and supporters can also get a look at the club’s new 3G pitch.

Free junior football coaching is from 2pm, while there will be music and the bar and marquee will be open. Entry is free.

The day ends with England in the final of the Women’s Euros on the big screen at 5pm.