Manager Steve McKimm is looking forward to a tough period of festive fixtures for Tonbridge.

With Angels having been knocked out of the FA Trophy at Hampton on Tuesday, the team’s focus now switches back to National League South action.

This weekend’s game against play-off occupants Hemel Hempstead will see Tonbridge begin a run of five league fixtures inside a fortnight.

That run will include two matches against rivals Maidstone and another Kent derby at Dartford next Saturday.

Looking ahead to 20th-placed Tonbridge’s trip to Vauxhall Road, McKimm said: “They (Hemel Hempstead) are up there and they have games in hand.

“They have signed quite a few players recently from what I can gather.

"It’s not an easy Christmas period for us, playing Dartford and Maidstone twice as well, but they are the kind of games you want to be a part of.”

Angels will target a return to winning ways at Hemel after they lost their FA Trophy first-round replay 2-0 at Hampton, Danilo Orsi-Dadomo and Ruaridh Donaldson on target for the hosts.

“I think the better side won on the night,” said McKimm.

“We were all gutted because there was a big prize on offer in the next round in the form of an away trip to Yeovil. But we have to look at ourselves and focus back on our league campaign now.

“We missed a couple of good chances, but they also missed a couple of chances.

“They just capitalised on a couple of mistakes by us, but we could not take our chances. Overall, it was a bitty game, really.”

Angels forced a replay after late goals by D’Sean Theobalds and Alex Bentley saw them come from 2-0 down last Saturday to draw 2-2.

• Tonbridge extend Ben Greenhalgh's loan from Dartford

When Tonbridge played Hemel at the Longmead Stadium in September, former Gillingham striker Liam Nash bagged a brace as the Hertfordshire side claimed the points, although Nash last week left the club.

But seventh-placed Hemel have recently signed forward Niko Muir from Hartlepool on a one-month loan.

McKimm said: “Hemel have quality players all over the pitch. They have signed Niko Muir from Hartlepool, and they have good strength-in-depth in their squad.”

Angels defender Jack Parter and Christ Tiehi - who picked up an ankle injury in midweek - are doubts for Saturday’s match.

“It leaves us with a thin squad,” McKimm said. “But we have to deal with the hand that we have been dealt.”

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