Jay Saunders and his Tonbridge players are loving the ride as they bid for a National South play-off place.

Angels are just a point off the top seven, in 10th, after beating Hungerford 4-3 at home last weekend.

They’re only six points behind third-placed Oxford City, their opponents this Saturday (3pm).

It’s so tight at the top and while Saunders suspects nerves will play a part at some point, they travel to Oxford full of confidence.

“I’m enjoying it,” said Saunders. “I love it when there’s stuff to play for at the end of the season - there’s a real buzz about the place.

“We had a 10-minute wobble against Hungerford when they came back from 4-1 to 4-3 but we got the job done and now we focus on Oxford and if we can beat them it tightens up again.

“We’ve lost two in 15 or 16 and not got in the play-offs once.

“We’re in a great position but so are a lot of other teams.

“We just have to focus on winning the games we’ve got and if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.

“We’ll give it our best shot. It’s great to be in with a chance of making the play-offs with six games to go.

"I hadn’t seen us getting nervous and then when we had that 10-minute spell on Saturday, I thought maybe we will.

“I’m sure nerves will play a part at some point but I think at the moment the boys are just enjoying it.

“We’ve got players who’ve been around play-offs and promotion and some who haven’t.

“It’s all about managing the situation and realising the players you think will work in certain games and not others.

“Certain players will suit certain games.

“You look around the squad and we’ve got people like Sonny Miles and Scott Wagstaff who’ve been there and done it and then we’ve got a lot of young lads.

“When we went to Havant the other week you look at the two squads and they’re full of experience, where we’ve got young lads like Tommie Fagg who’ve stepped up a couple of divisions and it’s all new.”

Tonbridge conceded early against Hungerford but led 4-1 by half-time through Jack Wood’s double and goals from Joe Turner and Jordan Greenidge.

The visitors fought back in the second half, going close to a late equaliser, but Tonbridge held on for a win that sets them up nicely for Oxford.

Saunders said: “After going 1-0 down, for 35 minutes after that we were exceptional.

“If you listen to their manager’s interview he said we were one of the best sides they’ve played this season.

“He said we were a different animal and they couldn’t deal with us. It’s nice to hear that.

“We had that wobble and I think it comes from previous games. We drew 3-3 with Slough after being 3-0 up and lost to Taunton after being 2-1 up.

“There’s been a few games where we’ve let leads slip and, no matter what you say, it’s in people’s minds a little bit. It’s a hurdle we have to overcome.

“We’ll see how we go at Oxford. They’re a very good side, their home record’s really good.

“It’ll be a tricky one but they’re not that far ahead of us.”