Tonbridge have signed former Woking midfielder Nathan Wood from Faversham.

Wood, who surprisingly dropped three levels to play for the Lilywhites this season, excelled at Salters Lane.

The 23-year-old was a man in demand after it emerged he’d be leaving the Isthmian South East club, with Tonbridge winning the race.

Wood was named among the substitutes as Angels climbed to eighth in National South with Jeremy Santos’ goal in a 1-0 home win over Chelmsford on Tuesday.

It was their second home victory in four days, Ruben Soares and Lewis Gard on target in Saturday’s 2-0 success against Chippenham.

“Nathan’s someone I kept hearing rave reviews about,” said Angels boss Jay Saunders.

“We kept tabs on him and felt the time was right to get him in.

“I met him for the first time on Tuesday when he came down to sign and he didn’t know any of the players. Even in the warm-up, you could see he’s got quality.

“He gives us something different, he can play in a few positions, and I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Tonbridge’s first clean sheet of the season further cheered Saunders, with his side just a point off the play-off places.

Eighteen-year-old centre-back Joe Tyrie has impressed alongside captain Sonny Miles and Saunders is tipping him to go far.

“He’s played the last three games now and done really well,” said Saunders. “I don’t care how old someone is, if they come in and do well, they keep the shirt.

“Swifty (Ben Swift) is going to have to work hard get back in. On Tuesday he was up against Simeon Jackson, who’s played at a top level, which was great experience for him.

“It helps that he’s got Jonny Henly behind him, Sonny Miles and Craig Braham-Barrett either side of him and Scott Wagstaff in front of him.

“Centre-half is the hardest position for young lads to go into because of the physicality of it but Joe doesn’t have a problem with that, he can deal with that, and he reads the game well.

“He’s got the tools to have a good career, I can see him playing higher.

“If you’re 18 and getting starts in a team that isn’t losing every week, people soon start looking.

“He’s got a good family around him and he’s a level-headed lad.”

Tonbridge visit Taunton on Saturday, followed by a rearranged game away at Worthing on Tuesday.

Angels are enjoying their best start to a National South season but Saunders is staying grounded.

He said: “I’m not really one for looking at the league table until after Christmas.

“My thing is to get to 45 points as a quick as you can and then see where you’re at.

“I said at the start of the season I wanted to push for the play-offs and if we keep winning games we’ll be there or thereabouts but I know how quickly things can change in football.

“At the moment, the boys are performing well and we’re playing some really good stuff.

“With these next two games away, it was important we got the back-to-back home wins.”