Tonbridge manager Steve McKimm has seen for himself the threat posed by Canvey Island in the FA Trophy this weekend.

McKimm and assistant boss Barry Moore were in the crowd as Canvey continued their long unbeaten run at the top of Isthmian North with a 2-1 win at Basildon on Tuesday night.

Angels are off to Essex in the second round of the Trophy on Saturday, with the Gulls seemingly unaffected by the departure of manager Mark Bentley, who recently joined the coaching staff at Southend.

Tonbridge operate two leagues above their opponents in National South but the tie will be far from straightforward.

“Canvey are going very well,” said McKimm. “We went to watch them on Tuesday night - it took 2hr50min to get to Basildon because of road closures - and we will relay to the players what we saw.

“They’re a decent side, with decent players - they can’t be bad if they haven’t lost in 13 or 14 games.

“They’ve got some threats so we’ll need to be on our mettle.

“Mark Bentley went to Southend but they’ve carried on with the good work down there and it’s one of those where they’re winning games.

“You’ve got the slope and the wind and the cold to deal with but it’s a game of football and we’ll be ready to give it our all.”

McKimm feels the gap between National League and Isthmian League football has closed in recent times - and it’s down to finance.

“There’s a lot of money about there now,” said McKimm.

“Good players who could play at our level are playing lower because of the money clubs are throwing about.

“I’m not saying Canvey are doing that but it is happening."

Craig Braham-Barrett returns from suspension, midfielder Tom Parkinson is rated 50:50, but Adam Lovatt definitely misses the trip through injury.

McKimm wants to make a couple of new signings but will have to wait until after the weekend to complete any deals.

“I’ve put seven-dayers in for two players,” said the Angels boss. “We’ve been made to wait the seven days, so I can speak to them on Monday and Tuesday.

“Some clubs waive the seven days - it depends who you’re dealing with.”

Tonbridge ended a run of four defeats - all without scoring - when they drew 1-1 with Chelmsford last weekend.

Joe Turner gave them the lead, with City levelling after the break, the point leaving Angels 18th in the table.

“We’ve ended the goal-drought,” said McKimm. “We got a point, we wanted three, but we didn’t get them.

“A point is still better than we’ve had recently so we’re half-happy that we’ve stopped the rot."