ANGELS’ DAY OF DESTINY: YOU CAN’T DO ALL THIS HARD WORK AND THROW IT ALL AWAY – ALEX O’BRIEN

ASSISTANT MANAGER Alex O’Brien has warned Tonbridge Angels’ great fans that they can expect another roller-coaster of a ride as the club bids to clinch promotion on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Barmy Army were challenged by me before the game to make it a “Cauldron of Passion that is Longmead Stadium,” and to a man they didn’t let anyone down as their passionate support before, during and after the game helped scrape their heroes through Harrow Borough on a memorable Tuesday night.

One last final effort, both and off the pitch, will see this great club beat Lowestoft Town to seal the club’s promotion out of the Ryman League and into Blue Square Bet South for the very first time in the club’s history.

Saturday is a day for heroes.  Heroes dressed in blue.

The Angels were 2-0 up inside 22 minutes against Harrow Borough, courtesy of Chris Piper and captain colossal Scott Kinch.

But it was never going to be an easy ride, against a Harrow Borough side that had lost just one of their last nine games.

Vastly experienced Rocky Baptiste ran the show and pulled a goal back within three minutes with a close range tap in after the Angels went asleep as an unmarked Dwayne Clarke cut the ball back across goal.

Harrow dominated and the Angels were hanging on – and when Baptiste (who appeared offside when David Ijaha looped a cross from inside the penalty area) nodded the ball in, the Angels were on the brink of disaster.

But from somewhere, the Tonbridge heroes found that extra desire from their battle wary limbs and Ade Olorunda scored his tenth goal of the season after 111 minutes.

Released by substitute Fraser Logan, Olorunda was through on goal, Harrow keeper Nick Jupp stuck out a strong right arm – the ball looped up and what seemed like an eternity dropped down towards the goal.

Time stood still in Tonbridge.  The horror thinking the Harrow defence would clear the ball off the line was evident, before the 28-year-old striker nipped in to bundle the ball over the line.  Cue scenes of jubilation around three sides of Longmead Stadium.

One more heroic win on Saturday, please!

”If you thought Tuesday was scary and hairy, I’m sure Saturday will bring exactly the same,” warned O’Brien.

”It’s one of those, you just hope that the boys’ start well, are organized, they bring what they can bring to a game of football.  If they do that with 100-110% commitment, we’ve got a chance.

”What we got (against Harrow) was fantastic, but like we’ve just said we’re only halfway there. 

”There’s still another 90 or 120 minutes or penalties. There’s still another twist in this tail and hopefully the twist comes out and it’s Tonbridge going up a league.”

If the home league game is anything to go by, we’re in for another day of drama.

The Angels were 3-0 up over Lowestoft but they had to settle for a point as the Suffolk side fought back to claim a point when 621 fans watched the home league game on 29 January.

”I’d like it to be a little bit easier,” said O’Brien.  “It’s one of those, that’s why we do it.  That’s why fans’ come and watch it, that’s why you guys (the press) come out and watch and give your views, that’s why players play in it.  Football’s a drug and it takes a second to score and a second to concede.  Football is never over until the fella in the middle goes ‘right, that’s enough’.

”Come what may Saturday, what I’ve seen here (on Tuesday), I’ve got no worries going into Saturday.”

Earlier in the week, O’Brien described the semi-final against Harrow Borough was a “World Cup Final.”
 
Asked what Saturday’s game against Lowestoft Town is, the Tonbridge resident, knows it’s “The Most Important Game Ever” in the club’s history.

”What’s Saturday now? God.  Saturday now, I’m a big believer sometimes football is what it is.  It’s a game. 

”A lot of things happen outside of football that are more important and this, that and the other.  Give us our little due at three o’clock here nothing else is important.  Three o’clock for 120 minutes, 90 minutes, penalties, whatever, this is what all matters, all that matters is getting this club into another league and that’s what we’re setting our sights on.”

Tonbridge Angels deserve to play in Blue Square Bet South – one tier away from the pinnacle of non-league football.

”You can’t do all this hard work and come Saturday, throw it all away,” added O’Brien, who like manager Tommy Warrilow are winners.

”Good football sides have pressure all the time we’re no different.  We’ve got pressure going into Saturday because we want to do well, the club want to do well, we want to do well for the county.  It’s a weight on our shoulders and brilliant – I’d rather be involved in Saturday’s game than be sitting tenth and the season’s done and it’s faded away. 

”The club want to push on.  Garry Pass (who puts the money in) has made that known and we’ve got a chance of, hopefully, stepping up.”

And as O’Brien also said, ”You don’t want to get into your car with regrets.”

IT’S OUR TURN – LET’S GO OUT AND PROVE IT!

COME ON TONBRIDGE!
 
Meanwhile, the club have confirmed that this is an ALL-PAY game – but usual prices apply £10 (adults), £5 (concessions) £3 (under 16s)

Visit Tonbridge Angels’ website: www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk

Tonbridge Angels  v  Lowestoft Town
Ryman Premier League Play-Off Final
Saturday 7^th May 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JF