Tonbridge boss Jay Saunders expects to upset former club Margate - with Francis Mampolo set to stay with Angels this Saturday.

Mampolo, who joined Isthmian Premier Gate on dual registration this month, returned for Saunders’ side on Tuesday and netted in their 2-1 National League South victory at bottom side Dover.

The winger is now expected to remain with his parent club for their trip to Weston-super-Mare.

Saunders, who saw Mampolo bag a second-half winner after midfielder Jordan Higgs had struck in the first half on his Crabble return, admitted: “I’m going to upset a few people at my old club!

“When we took him, I think Francis was playing for Sutton Common Rovers last year, which is a lot lower. He scored at Torquay this year, he changed the game when we went to St Albans and he just went a few weeks without playing.

“Once we brought (Sean) Shields in, it was hard for him. I just felt he needed to get up to speed. He’s had two good games (at Margate) and we kept an eye on it.

“I think a lot of people thought ‘Oh, they’re just offloading him’ because we didn’t want him. But that wasn’t the case.

“The boy has got potential. He needs to do it more consistently.”

Report: Dover 1-2 Tonbridge

“It’s probably why we are where we are”

Angels are 11th, only four points off the play-off places, albeit they have played more games than virtually everyone above them.

They lost 1-0 at home to second-placed Worthing last Saturday as midfielder Lewis Gard missed a penalty.

While Saunders would love to finish in the top seven, the club’s primary focus is a top-10 finish.

“It frustrates me,” he noted. “If you look at it, we have had a lot of draws and, from those games, we probably should have won an extra three or four. Then, you’re right in the mix.

“I’ve said all along that we have got to establish ourselves as a top-10 club.

“We have got to back up last year and make it a club players want to come to and stay at, and not move on from at the end of the season for better options.

“We’re going in the right direction. I think we have got a run of games where we could come out with good points but we have got to be more clinical.”

Tonbridge will be aiming to prevent Weston from doing the double over them this season after they lost their first home league match of the campaign at Longmead in August.

Saunders said: “It’s always a tough place to go. It’s very open there. I’ve seen them a couple of times.

“Funnily enough, I watched them when they played Dover and they played very well. I think we should have beaten them earlier in the season. We had them really early and lost 1-0 to a breakaway goal.

“We’ll do our due diligence but, at the moment, my biggest concern is trying to get a few of the boys back.

“We’re missing Ben Swift, Jernade Meade, Sean Shields, Ansu Janneh and Jamie Fielding. When you look at them, nine times out of 10, those five all start.

“So, it’s difficult for us. Hopefully, we can get a couple of them back.”

Saunders - who achieved three promotions in four seasons in charge of Maidstone before he left in 2018 - also offered his best wishes to the Stones ahead of their FA Cup Fourth-Round tie at Championship club Ipswich this Saturday.

He said: “I’m pleased for them and a lot of people at the club, the supporters especially.

“It doesn’t come around too often, does it? I’m sure - whatever happens there - they will go in their numbers and have great support. I hope they enjoy their day.

“They’ll make good money out of it but they’re good memories. Obviously, I’m from that area and my kids, along with all their friends, have always been supporters.

“I’m sure they will enjoy their day.”