Jay Saunders is seeing a tougher side to his Tonbridge team this season.

The Angels are unbeaten after three games of the National League South campaign.

After beating Weymouth at home on the opening day, they drew 2-2 at Aveley on Saturday and 1-1 at Chelmsford on Monday.

Two games in three days, against sides who made last season’s play-offs, would test anyone but Tonbridge were up to the task.

“I think last year we went to Aveley and Chelmsford and got rolled over quite easily,” said boss Saunders.

“We had a bit of a soft underbelly but I feel we’re a bit tougher this year and have a bit more knowhow.

“Although we’ve still got a young squad I’ve been pleased we’ve gone to Chelmsford on a Monday night where they’ve thrown everything at us and we’ve stood up to it.

“I think we’ve got a good group and the competition is a big thing because it pushes people on.

“When you looked at the bench last year, you kind of knew you were playing every week.

“Now we’ve got that competition and the atmosphere is really good.

“The boys seem close, which is a positive.

“They want to learn and I think we’ll get better.

“After five or six games I think we’ll really get going but hopefully we can keep picking up points and keep growing as a group.”

Liam Vincent and Sean Shields scored as Tonbridge twice came from a goal down to draw at Aveley.

Defender Vincent scored again at Chelmsford but the hosts earned a point in the second half.

Tonbridge look to continue their promising start to the season at home to Bath on Saturday.

That’s followed by a trip to pace-setters Farnborough on Bank Holiday Monday (both 3pm).

“I’d like to have a couple more points on the board but all in all I think it’s nice to be unbeaten,” said Saunders.

“Someone said would you not rather have lost one and won one of the last two games and have more points?

“But the longer you stay unbeaten, the more confidence that breeds so I’m pleased with the start considering it’s quite a new group.

“The draws away from home are good if you can back them up with a home win, so we’ll be looking to do that against Bath.

“They’ve signed well. I think they’ve got big expectations this year, so it’s not going to be easy but we’ve had some good games with them.

“It’ll be a good test for us but I think everyone’s still learning about their squads and players.

“We’ve got Farnborough away on Monday and they’re another team who are fancied to go well.

“It’s going to be interesting but with the squad we’ve got it’s filled me with a bit of confidence.

“On Monday, we were able to leave Scott Wagstaff (captain) out and bring in Taylor Maloney, who’s got good experience.

“Last year we wouldn’t have been able to do that.

“I think it’s the first time I’ve left Waggy out through choice. He had a calf injury in pre-season and the first two games he had to come off towards the end because his fitness wasn’t quite there.

“I had a good chat with him and I said you’ve got to be honest with me and he kind of felt he wasn’t 100%.

“I didn’t want him getting a recurrence of the calf injury so I made that decision to leave him out.

“I think it was the right decision. He’s good as gold.”