Jay Saunders says Tonbridge will keep trying to bridge the gap to the leading sides in National League South.

Angels have enjoyed a successful first half of the season, ending 2024 in 10th place and reaching the FA Cup first round for just the second time in 52 years.

They go to Hornchurch on New Year’s Day and this Saturday host high-flying Weston (both 3pm).

Angels are holding their own against full-time clubs with big budgets and will continue to fight for a play-off place.

“I think it’s been a good season for us,” said Angels boss Saunders, whose side are looking to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat by Maidstone on Boxing Day.

“Last year some people were disappointed to finish mid-table but it’s a tough league and we have to understand where we’re at as a club.

“If you look at the clubs we’re competing against, I think we’re doing all right.

“It’s maybe just the small margins when you play the top teams, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

“We’ve got a good honest group of young lads and we’ll keep working with them and pushing them.

“There’s been a lot of improvements this year but I think we just have to realise where we’re at as a club.

“We want to keep pushing, everyone wants to keep pushing but it’s a tough league, it’s a relentless league and there’s some big clubs we’re competing against.

“We know where we’re at as a management team and as a club, the players understand it, but we genuinely want to push on and bridge that gap.

“It’s hard. Whether it comes down to finances or whatever, bridging that gap with those top boys is tough but I’m proud we’ve been up there mixing with some of them.

“I think teams genuinely give us respect, they know it’s not an easy place to come and that Tonbridge are a decent side.

“If you look at the teams down the bottom, there’s some big clubs down there who are really struggling and we’ve been up there or thereabouts, punching above our weight, and we’ll keep trying to improve.”

Saunders has raised expectation levels at Tonbridge since succeeding Steve McKimm.

Ex-boss McKimm worked wonders to get Tonbridge promoted and keep them in National League South during an eight-year reign.

Saunders was keen to build on those achievements, finishing ninth and 14th in his first two seasons.

“I’ve always said Macca did an unbelievable job here,” said Saunders.

“When I came in, I felt in that first year, teams didn’t give us a lot of credit and all of a sudden we had a good season and now people consider us a good side in this league.

“Since we came here, we just missed out on the play-offs, had a mid-table finish and this year we’ve been doing well.

“You’re not up there by luck, it’s by hard work and having players that want to do right for the club.

“We’ve got lads we pick up from lower levels, the likes of Trevan Robinson, and we go into the younger market with the likes of Ronny Nelson and Liam Vincent.

“We build them up and try and work with them.

“I think what we do here is good, not only on the pitch but behind the scenes as a club, we try to do things right.

“We fully understand we’re not at the levels of some of the other clubs in the league but we’re trying to bridge that gap and we’ll keep doing that.”