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A busy period is set to test Tonbridge’s injury-hit squad.
The Angels, beaten 2-0 at Dartford in National League South at the weekend, are missing a lot of experience with midfielder Doug Loft, player-coach Tom Parkinson, Jamie Fielding, James Taylor and Ben Swift all missing recent matches.
Jay Saunders’ side host Chippenham this Saturday and Chelmsford next Tuesday before also being set to go Saturday-Tuesday two weeks in a row after that as well.
“Look, we go Saturday-Tuesday now for about a month,” said boss Saunders, who hinted he could add to his squad.
“That’s going to be tough with the squad we’ve got.
“That’s why we need to look at it. We’ve got young Fyn Rutherford, young Jaden Crowhurst at right-back, and Joe Tyrie playing.
“We’ve got a lot of youngsters playing but it’s great for them and good for the future of the club as well.
"We’ve got to assess the squad and go again.”
A Samir Carruthers goal, direct from a corner, and a second-half effort by substitute Pierre Fonkeu consigned Tonbridge to a second league loss in three fixtures.
But they were never really out of the contest and could have set up a grandstand finish, only for Joe Turner to send a penalty over which on-loan Charlton midfielder Jeremy Santos had won.
Saunders admitted: “The penalty is a key moment, isn’t it?
"I don’t want to be harsh on JT but, if it goes in, the last 10 or 15 minutes become very nervy for them.
“But it didn’t and we’ve just got to keep building.”
Saunders had anticipated having defender Fielding back from injury but that didn’t materialise.
“I was hoping to have Jamie Fielding back on Saturday. It didn’t happen,” he said. “James Taylor, we’re not sure.
“Tom Parkinson is training now but it’s probably a week too early for him.
"Doug Loft is a way off and Ben Swift is having an operation on Monday so, hopefully, we’ll have him back within a week."
Weekend opponents Chippenham are mid-table, two points behind 11th-placed Tonbridge but with a game in hand.
Saunders said: “They’re a good footballing side. But it’s a home game and we’ve got a week to, hopefully, get a couple of the injured ones back.
“Maybe it’s time to bring one or two in because maybe we need to in key areas but we’ll only bring in the right players.
“Chippenham will be a good side.
"But we are on a good little run at home and, hopefully, we can continue that.”
