Dover Athletic 2-1 Tonbridge Angels - Losing at this stage will be costly, admits Tommy Warrilow

DOVER ATHLETIC  2-1  TONBRIDGE ANGELS
The FA Cup with Budweiser Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 22^nd September 2012
Paul Parkinson report from Crabble

DOVER ATHLETIC had to work hard to earn their first home win of the season as they progressed into the Third Qualifying Round of this season’s FA Cup. For Tonbridge though, their woeful FA Cup record continues, now having failed to win any tie since a 5-0 win over Stotfold in 2007, which has produced six consecutive defeats.

Dover Athletic manager, Nicky Forster was delighted with the performance, saying, “I thought we were worthy winners today, but credit Tonbridge who came and had a real go at us. They had periods of possession, periods where they were on top, but over the 90 minutes, I was delighted with my boys.””

And he reflected on the first home win, adding, “Obviously it’s not a statistic that we want. Sometimes you can play badly and win, others you can play well and lose, so you have to break the performances down, not just look at the results.

“I’ve maintained all along that we’ve played well in all our home games this season, created chances, but just haven’t got the rewards. Today, ironically, we haven’t created as many chances as over the last two games, when we lost 1-0, and yet we’ve run out 2-1 winners. Sometimes it can be difficult to understand why, but we got our rewards today.

“We create chances. There are periods in a game where we totally dominate the opposition, but perhaps we haven’t been ruthless enough. The mistakes we’ve made have been punished, but we knew that once the goals came, the performances would change and today was an example of that.””

For Tonbridge boss Tommy Warrilow though, the performance was more pleasing than the result, as he commented, “I can’t fault the boys, I thought we were by far the better side today. We started slowly, kept giving the ball away, but two set pieces have cost us. We were sitting too deep, we knew they were very good aerially, and we’ve not dealt with them.”

“I thought we got the ball down, knocked it around, stretched the pitch and second half, we were always on the attack. They may have counter-attacked occasionally, but I thought we deserved to win. But we haven’t, we’re out of the FA Cup, and we’ll accept any criticism that comes our way, but I’d like to think that honestly, anyone here will know we deserved the win.”

“We’ve got to dust ourselves down, but I’ve told the boys to hold their heads high as we’ve come here and had a real go at Dover. When things don’t go right, people can gave a go at systems, but we’ve done more than enough to win here, and I’m absolutely gutted to have gone out.””

Dover Athletic flew out of the blocks from kick off and had their first chance after just 60 seconds, as Barry Cogan burst into the Tonbridge area and pulled the ball across to Ben May, whose shot was well saved by Lee Worgan.

The same two players combined on 6 minutes to give Dover the lead, but the home side would admit that a huge slice of good fortune went their way.

As Cogan’s free kick was floated into the area, Ben Judge’s untimely slip left May free in the middle of the box 10 yards out, with all the time he needed to guide his header into the corner of the net.

With Tonbridge struggling for fluency in their play, only a fantastic challenge from Chris Piper saved the Angels, as Cogan had the chance to slot the ball into an empty net from the edge of the area on 13 minutes, but the challenge forced the shot wide.

A minute later, Cogan, an FA Cup finalist with Millwall in 2004, was set up by Billy Bricknell’s header, but couldn’t get his volley on target.

Henry Muggeridge, arguably Tonbridge’s best player on the day, produced a scintillating run down the left wing, beating two players as he burst into the box, but no-one anticipated his driven cross.

Tonbridge drew themselves level on 27 minutes with their first shot in anger. Mikel Suarez did well to flick on Worgan’s long clearance. Frannie Collin lifted the ball over Danny Webb who, as he stumbled appeared to handle, but George Purcell nipped in to calmly slot the ball into the bottom right corner.

But thirteen minutes later, another free kick into the Angels box brought reward for Dover, with Webb sliding in to convert Ian Simpemba’s guided header from another Cogan cross.

Webb though was booked for his reaction in the aftermath, and Simpemba would follow his defensive partner into Mr Nigel Lugg’s book for something he said.

Suarez saw a shot blocked by Simpemba, and Bricknell had an effort deflected behind off Danny Walder before the teams went in for the break.

Whatever Warrilow said at the interval worked as Tonbridge came out with a renewed intent, and their three forwards linked up to create the first chance of the half. Collin, whose shot on the turn was parried by Walker, controlled Suarez’s knockdown first time and Purcell could only lift the rebound over the bar.

From a Judge free kick, Webb had did well to deny Collin a shot on goal, but agonisingly for the visiting supporters, his flicked clearance dropped onto the roof of the net with Walker well beaten.

Then, capping a 10 minute period where Tonbridge dominated, Collin fired a free kick just over the Dover bar from 30 yards.

Dover introduced new signing Daryl McMahon, who has arrived for an undisclosed transfer fee from Blue Square Bet South rivals Eastleigh, on the hour, either side of which Muggeridge and Bricknell fired shots wide for their respective sides.

As time ticked on, Tonbridge became more and more desperate, firing long balls towards the Dover area, but Simpemba and Webb dealt with these comfortably, and Dover seemed content to just soak up the pressure.

In stoppage time, another headed clearance fell to McMahon, who burst forward with Angels’ players trailing in his wake. The former Eastleigh midfielder slid a ball through to Ricky Modeste, who curled his shot wide when one-on-one with Worgan.

Warrilow admitted: “I’m not going to lie, losing at this stage will be costly. It’s not going to be doom and gloom, but going out at our first round may hinder any chances of bringing additions in.”

“We can’t compare ourselves to Dover financially, but my board have been brilliant. As a manager I always want more, but if we keep playing like that we’ve got to look at pushing further up the league.”

“With the size of squad that I’ve got, I’m like any manager who wants to strengthen, maybe look around and have a couple of players in the stand, but it’s my fault that we’ve not got past the first hurdle in my three years here.

“We’ve played some very good football here today against a good side. At times we’ve totally dominated it, and we were fine in the first half apart from the two set pieces that they’ve scored from. I fully thought we deserved to win, not just get a draw.”

Forster though, was full of praise for Dover chairman Jim Parmenter’s support, as he explained, “We’ve changed more than half the personnel over the summer, so it will take time to bed in. We’ve only had 10 games, but I think we’ll get stronger and stronger as time goes on.”

“The chairman has backed me again in the market this week, with the signing of Daryl McMahon, so he’ll be happy that we’ve got a few quid back in. He’s a good addition to us, and it means we’ve got good strength all over the park. Each one of them has either played at a higher level, or I believe could do so. To have that strength in depth could be vital for us as the season draws on; players get tired, injuries and suspensions kick in, and loss of form as it is a long season.””

And he finished with the comment most managers in the FA Cup would appreciate, “It’s always nice being in the hat on a Monday morning and looking forward to who you get in the next round.”

Dover Athletic:  Mitch Walker, Shane Huke, Tom Wynter, Dean Rance (George O’Callaghan 78), Ian Simpemba, Danny Webb, Jamie Smith (Daryl McMahon 59), Steven Thomson, Ben May, Billy Bricknell (Ricky Modeste 72), Barry Cogan.
Subs: Steve Watt, Chris Sessegnon, Lee Hook, Calum Willcok

Goals: Ben May 6, Danny Webb 40

Booked: Danny Webb 40, Ian Simpemba 45, Ben May 50, Steven Thomson 84

Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Danny Walder, Henry Muggeridge, Lee Browning, Ben Judge, Olly Schulz, Sonny Miles (Ross Treleaven , Chris Piper, George Purcell, Frannie Collin, Mikel Suarez.
Subs: Nathan Koranteng, Rory Hill, Mark Lovell, Robbie Kember

Goal: George Purcell 27

Booked: Lee Browning 24, George Purcell 88

Attendance: 625
Referee: Mr Nigel Lugg (Chipstead, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr Stuart Franklin (Wickford, Essex) & Mr Paul Yates (Maidstone)