Tonbridge Angels manager Alan Dunne reacts to 1-0 National League South defeat at Ebbsfleet United on Boxing Day

Tonbridge boss Alan Dunne was proud of his players for pushing full-time Ebbsfleet all the way on Boxing Day.

Only a lack of quality in the final third denied Angels at least a share of the spoils in a keenly-contested National League South Kent derby at Stonebridge Road.

They were undone by Dominic Samuel’s late winner but Dunne took plenty from their performance.

“Congratulations to Ebbsfleet and Josh (Wright, Ebbsfleet manager),” said Dunne. “I felt first half they probably edged it, they had a couple of chances, we had a couple of chances.

“In the second half there was only one team in it. I felt we controlled the game. They were never a threat and one of the boys put their hand up and said they’ve missed easy chances and you can’t do that – you get punished.

“To come here and compete with another giant (in this division). After not being in Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, to dominate and control the second half, I’m proud of them.

“They’re disappointed but I said I’m so proud of you as a football club.”

Tonbridge’s impressive record under Dunne has included victories at Maidstone and Torquay.

Admittedly they’ve lost at struggling Chippenham but they had enough of the game to have taken something away from Ebbsfleet as well.

“Josh come up to me after and said, we've watched you four or five times,” reflected Dunne. “At the moment, everyone's saying how dangerous and how much you are a threat. So again, that was credit.

“But I just felt for the boys because they put so much in, so much into the game and I felt the least we deserved would have been a draw.

“They’re all honest boys and they said we had more than enough chances and that's the difference sometimes.

But I have to be proud of them. Tactically, we got it