Tonbridge boss Jay Saunders hopes taking a point from runaway leaders Ebbsfleet will make his players believe they can reach the play-offs.

Surprise package Angels are just two points outside the top seven in National League South after an excellent campaign under Saunders.

They’ve taken four points off champions-elect Ebbsfleet after a 1-1 draw at Longmead last weekend, a result Saunders believes should do wonders for their confidence.

“I don’t take a lot from it and I don’t think as a management team we do, I think for the players it’s good,” he reflected.

“Before the game, everyone outside is thinking ‘league leaders, free hit, big crowd, good day out’ and I said that I believe we can get a result against them.

“When you go in at half-time and say we need to do this, this and this. For them to go out and do it, gives them the belief that we can do it.

“It’s good for them so they’ll take a lot of confidence from that.

“We were having a laugh about it the other night and (midfielder) Devonte Aransibia said ‘I think we can do it, I think we can make the play-offs’, and I was ‘yeah, believe it’. There’s no point in saying we can’t.

“We’re as good as anything in the league on our day but it will be hard, there’s a lot of teams fighting and feeling that way.

“If you look at our games, it’s not an easy run but you’d rather have something to play for and be chasing.

“I’m pleased for the players that they’re in that as there’s nothing worse than being mid-table with nine games to go and nothing to play for. I think teams have got games in hand so if they win them they go above us, but all we can do is worry about us.”

Tonbridge are certainly ahead of expectations under Saunders, Lloyd Blackman and Tom Parkinson.

The former Stones boss has never been one to shy away from reaching for the stars.

“Let’s get it right and this is no disrespect to the old management, they were in a relegation battle last year,” he said. “They stayed up one or two games before the end of the season.

“When I came in the club said they didn’t want to be in a relegation battle and if we can be mid-table they’d be delighted. But I was let’s try and push for the play-offs.

“We did a meet-the-fans and even the management team probably thought ‘shut up gaffer’ at the time as I said then that we’d try and make the play-offs.

“I’m ambitious, you have to set targets high and we do that as a management team, Blacky and Parky. We want to push and get as much out of them as possible. Yes, we’re ahead of schedule but only on paper.”

Tonbridge can go level on points with Havant if they win at Westleigh Park this Saturday. They’ve got eight games left to make the top seven.

“We go to Havant, host Hungerford and then play Oxford next,” said Saunders. “They’re three massive games.

“Havant and Oxford are fighting for play-offs, and Hungerford are in a relegation battle so they’re big games.

“But at this stage of the season I’m sure any Tonbridge supporter will tell you they’ll be buzzing to be a point off the play-offs.

“I wanted to push for that, and it’s good that we are, it keeps the season alive and everyone is enjoying it.”

Tonbridge lost 4-3 at Ramsgate in the Kent Senior Cup Quarter-final on Tuesday, despite leading twice. Jordan Greenidge, Fyn Rutherford and Tommy Wood with a penalty scored their goals.