More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Tonbridge are off the mark in National League South after an 89th-minute winner against Concord on Tuesday night.
Left-back Jack Parter met Joe Turner's cross to give Angels a 1-0 win and end the visitors' 100% start.
Boss Steve McKimm said: "I'm over the moon for the players because they've worked so hard.
"They deserved something out of the first three games and on Tuesday night we got our rewards.
"We just needed that confidence boost for the boys.
"A point would have been good but to get the three we deserved was even better."
Sonny Miles made a big difference on his return from suspension as Angels kept their first clean sheet.
McKimm said: "We're not going to score bundles of goals this season because it's that tight in this league, so you need to keep clean sheets as best you can and try to get a goal or two.
"It was great to have Sonny back. He's played the level before, he's got that experience and he talked Rian Bray and others through the game.
"He gave us a presence on the pitch, he gave everyone a lift and he deserved his man-of-the-match award."
Tonbridge's fitness impressed McKimm having played the majority of Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Dorking with 10 men following Rhyle Ovenden's controversial red card after only 22 minutes.
It changed the game and Angels, whose goal came from Tommie Hession-Harris, have appealed.
McKimm said: "The referee said he led with his elbow but I've watched the video back and it confirms he didn't.
"I know we were 1-0 down at the time but we'd been the better side and the game turned on the red card.
"The majority of those players played again on Tuesday so full credit to them for getting that result against Concord after being down to 10 men for so long at Dorking."
Tonbridge make the long journey to league pacesetters Bath this Saturday.
The hosts have won three and drawn one of their opening four matches but Tonbridge aren't going to Twerton Park, City's 9,000-capacity ground, to make up the numbers.
McKimm said: "It's a nice stadium, a historic stadium, a proper old-fashioned football stadium.
"We've waited ages to play at places like this and we're finally there.
"They've gone top of the table.
"Are people giving us a hope of getting anything? Probably not, but we'll turn up and give everyone a game.
"We're not going there to make up the numbers.
"If we're good enough on the day we might come away with something.
"If not, it won't be for the want of trying.
"We've earned the right to be on the same pitch as them and we'll give a good account of ourselves."
