Edusei repays Warrilow for keeping the faith - EXCLUSIVE

TONBRIDGE ANGELS striker Akwasi Edusei is repaying the faith that Tommy Warrilow has shown in him, writes Stephen McCartney.

WHO NEEDS MOURINHO?  We've got Tom Warrilow! 
The Tonbridge Angels manager, picking up his manager of the month award for March last night, has guided the west Kent club clear of the drop zone into the play-off spots with only three league games left to play.  Five more wins and the Longmead Stadium club will be playing Blue Square South football for the very first time in August.

Photograph courtesy of David Couldridge - www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/gallery
 
The 21-year-old former Gillingham, Welling United and Ramsgate striker, netted his first hat-trick for the Angels during their convincing 4-0 home win over fellow play-off contenders Hendon last night.

The west Kent club climbed up four places to fifth in the Ryman Premier League - the final play-off spot - and must win their last three league games to secure a play-off place.

Tonbridge Angels are now just FIVE WINS away from playing Blue Square South football - for the very first time - next August.

Warrilow’s warriors travel to Billericay Town on Saturday before welcoming AFC Hornchurch for their last home game on 19^th April and travel to Carshalton Athletic on the final day of the league season.

Billericay Town may be in tenth place in the table but the Essex outfit are just five points adrift of the Angels in a very tight division.

The game against Hornchurch, meanwhile, is another make-or-break game for the club. The Urchins currently hold onto fourth place - just three points clear of the Angels.

If Wealdstone win at Hornchurch on Saturday and the Angels win at Billericay Town, then the west Kent side could leapfrog over the Essex boys into fourth place when the two sides meet.

But Tuesday night’s 4-0 win over a physical Hendon side keeps the Angels hopes alive.

This was the club’s ninth win out of their last ten games - their only defeat was Chelmsford City’s late 1-0 win a couple of weeks ago.

Goalkeeper Matt Reed has also kept seven clean sheets during that time and Edusei has now scored seven goals from ten starts (13 as substitute).

Edusei, meanwhile, was “very pleased” with his contribution against Hendon.

“It was an important game because this game’s put us into the play-off’s and that’s where we want to be,” the slender striker said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after the game.

“I’m very pleased to be honest because I’ve had a few chances and missed quite a few but I knew it would come. The manager knew it would come and that’s all that matters to me - as long as people have faith in me.”

Despite bagging a hat-trick, Edusei isn’t sure that he’ll keep his shirt for Saturday’s must-win game at Billericay Town.

“No-one knows whose got their shirts on Saturday,” he said. “That’s the good thing about being here.

“There’s so much competition, no-one wants to drop their shirts.

“We’ve got Rookie (top scorer Carl Rook); we’ve got Fraser (Logan); we’ve got people on the bench who can come in and do a job.

“No-one really has got their shirts and that’s why everyone’s playing so well.”

The club have risen up the table but the hard work is staying in fifth place for their last three league games.

Edusei is fully aware that the team must win their last five games to secure promotion with champions Chelmsford City into the Blue Square South.

“Even though we’re there, we’ve just got to do a job at Billericay and just keep pushing on,” said Edusei.

“We’ve just got to keep doing the thing’s we’re doing.

“Everyone believes that we can do it, the manager, the chairman, the supporters all believe we can do it, why can’t we do it?”

And the striker has urged Tonbridge fans to keep up their support of the team.

“This club has always had great support, whether I’ve played against them or played for them,” said Edusei.

“They’re like our 12^th man really and that’s the main reason clubs come here and find it difficult to play.”

The only set-back was that central midfielder Anthony Storey faces a two-match suspension, having collected his 10^th yellow card of the season against Hendon.

“That’s him out for two games so he’s got to be professional about it and keep playing until he’s out and just get the club into the play-off’s and then we’ll worry about it then,” said boss Warrilow.

The former Horsham assistant manager who has guided the club into fifth place after just 35 games in charge - he took over in November with the club second-from-bottom in the Ryman Premier League table - has challenged his side not to throw it all away.

“We’re on fire at the moment but we’re not going to take it for granted,” he said.

“We’re back in (training) on Thursday night and we’ve got another tough one away to Billericay on Saturday.

“It’s important we don’t throw it all away there and come Saturday night I think that’s when you might sort of see who is and who isn’t (involved in the promotion play-off’s) as there’s only two games left after that.”

He added: “We’ve got to make sure we win Saturday and stay in the play-off spots.”

Visit Tonbridge Angels websites: www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk & www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/forum

Billericay Town v Tonbridge Angels
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 12^th April 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At New Lodge, Blunts Wall Road, Billericay, Essex CM12 9SA