Steve McKimm was proud of “little old Tonbridge” after their derby draw at Maidstone on New Year’s Day.

Angels twice fought back from a goal down to draw 2-2 in front of a crowd of 2,520 at the Gallagher Stadium.

It was just the response boss McKimm wanted following Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Dartford.

He described that performance as “woeful” but their display against Maidstone was anything but.

McKimm said: “I thought it was an excellent performance after what we served up against Dartford.

“I got the system wrong to start with, that’s how they got their first goal by getting in at the back post, but we changed it, we matched them up and I thought man for man we were better than them.

“We went behind twice, showed character to come back and I lost count of the amount of crosses we put in and the amount of corners we got.

“Yes, you’ve got to capitalise on them but if the ball’s in that half, they aren’t going to score.

“Credit to my players for doing exactly what I wanted them to do, getting down the sides and putting crosses in.

“As much as I said our performance at Dartford was woeful, today’s a good point but I thought we should have had the three.”

Tonbridge were backed by almost 300 travelling fans and McKimm added: “The players knew what it meant to the supporters.

“This game means a lot to our supporters and our club because we are little old Tonbridge compared to big old Maidstone. That’s what it’s classed as.

"How many were here today, 2,500? But our fans were singing non-stop and we’re down near the bottom.

“I’m not saying Maidstone’s fans weren’t behind them but we got that extra push every time we went behind and every time we went forward and it was a massive help.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the players.”

Tonbridge handed a debut to Italian Roberto Ratti, who’s joined on loan from Dover.

McKimm liked the look of the youngster who might even have capped a promising performance with a goal.

The Angels boss said: “I spoke to Andy Hessenthaler at Dover and he was very helpful.

“He wasn’t getting any games there, he was training hard but couldn’t get in the side so we took him in and Andy put him our way.

“He came in, trained with us on Monday, enjoyed it and I thought he was fantastic today.

“He ran the channels well, made himself a nuisance and could have topped it off with a goal if he’d got a little bit less on his header.

“He’s a bright spark for us, that’s another young one, and he isn’t costing us the world.

“We’re hopefully getting another young lad in by Saturday and that’s what we’ve got to do with the budget we’ve got.

“It’s competition for places and when you get that, the levels raise.”

Tonbridge bid to climb out of the bottom two when they host Chippenham on Saturday.

All five of their wins this season have come at Longmead and Angels have every reason to be optimistic.

McKimm said: “It’s just a case of those players doing what I ask them do to. The proof is in the pudding today.

“We asked them to get it wide and get crosses in and turn them and they kept doing it.

• Maidstone 2-2 Tonbridge

“It’s when they change to their own script that we come unstuck.

“I made the mistake to start with, I hold my hands up, but the boys got me out of a hole.

“We’re working within our means and I respect that because I wouldn’t be manager otherwise.

“We’re going to have another bumpy spell but if we can get a few home wins and pick up points, or even nick the odd three away, we won’t be far off staying up.”

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