Six points separate the bottom four clubs in Vanarama National League South.  Tonbridge are one of them, and the other three are all to come to Longmead in the next few weeks, starting with this weekend's visit of bottom side Billericay Town.

Steve said:  "Saturday isn't going to define our season because after this we've still got fourteen league games to play.  We're in a good place, we just want to keep that going. We're at home, we'll have a good crowd behind us.

"They've made a lot of singings.  Jody Brown seems to have turned the whole squad around which sometimes you have to do and he's getting the rewards from that.  They beat Dulwich in their last game.  They've got some good experienced players, some ex pros, it's just a matter of seeing what we come up against.

"Harry Hudson starts his suspension because last week didn't count, Ibz (Olutade) is 50/50 and Jake Embery comes back from Leatherhead.  Tommy Wood's heel was hurting him so he wasn't going to start on Saturday but he could come back into contention."

This is Tonbridge's first game since the Kent Senior Cup win over Maidstone, where young players such as Ben Hermitage, Toby McKimm, Luca Woodhouse, Joe Tyrie and Tom Green all impressed.  But have they done enough to push for places in the first team?

"Ben was involved in the squad because of injuries last week but they need more games, they need to be playing on a more regular basis.  A couple are on dual-reg at Crowborough, and I'm looking to get a couple on dual-reg somewhere else.  Some will play against Welling (Kent Senior Cup quarter final).  Are they ready for National League South football?  No, they need more games.  They need to keep doing what they're doing.  They're training with us on a regular basis, they're holding their own, that's why we put them in the squad."

Steve McKimm was talking with Matt Davison

Picture: David Couldridge