Erith & Belvedere 1-2 Tonbridge Angels - I want more goals, demands Warrilow

Thursday 23rd July 2009

ERITH & BELVEDERE 1-2 TONBRIDGE ANGELS
Pre-Season Friendly
Thursday 23rd July 2009
Stephen McCartney reports from Park View Road

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow complained about his side’s wasteful shooting, despite comfortably beating Kent League opposition tonight.

The Ryman Premier Leaguers had to settle for just two goals, despite dominating the entire first half at Park View Road.

The impressive Steve Ferguson had given the Angels a deserved lead on the half-hour mark, but Erith & Belvedere grabbed an equaliser just two minutes later, with their first chance, through Nathan Bell.

But French striker Jean-Michel Sigere won the game for Warrilow’s side just two minutes later, but it should have been more for classy Tonbridge.

Former Angels reserve team goalkeeper, Matt Bromby, made a string of fine first class saves to frustrate Warrilow.

After ten minutes he blocked Sigere’s acrobatic right-footed half volley from ten-yards, following Ferguson’s cross from the right.

Ferguson tormented Deres’ left-back Danny Tipple during the first half and the former AFC Wimbledon winger should have scored himself seven minutes later.

Ferguson appeared yards offside as he latched onto Scott Gooding’s ball over the top from his central defensive position, but this was one of many poor decisions made by unfit replacement assistant, Keith Challinger.

Ferguson raced towards goal and dinked his shot across Bromby towards the far corner, but Mr Challinger flagged Sigere offside when the summer signing stabbed the ball over the line from two-yards.

Bromby made his second fine save of the game after 21 minutes, thwarting Lee Minshull after the midfielder used his strength to muscle his way into the Erith & Belvedere penalty area.

A move involving Sigere and Ferguson down the right set up Paul Booth, but the striker, who had a quiet game, rolled his shot harmlessly wide from the edge of the Deres’ penalty box.

Strong midfielder Minshull was wasteful at the far post following Ferguson’s right-wing corner, planting his header across goal and past the far post.

But a flurry of goals followed in the space of four minutes.

The Angels deservedly took the lead after 30 minutes when Sigere’s flick on released Ferguson, who appeared to be yards offside, but he kept his composure to slot the ball past the exposed Bromby.

But left-winger Bell, formerly of Grays Athletic and Fisher Athletic, latched onto Tommy Martin’s pass, turned his marker, and stunned Angels goalkeeper Lee Worgan with a sweet low left-footed angled drive , which left Worgan rooted to the spot as the ball flashed inside the near post.

Yet another shoddy offside decision went Tonbridge’s way as Sigere scored what turned out to be the winner after 34 minutes.

A ball over the top of Sam Cormack and Aaron Burrett was seized upon by Sigere, who showed his class by rounding the advancing Bromby to slot home.

Summer signing, Louis Collins, whipped in the home side’s first corner of the game after 39 minutes, but midfielder Chris Hill’s towering header sailed over.

Mr Challinger’s third blunder arrived, as he robbed Erith & Belvedere a 56th minute leveller.

The Deres had brought on strikers Andy Doerr and Sam Prett at the break, replacing giant Lee Benevente, who was earlier booked, and Collins.

Prett, who was in an onside position, was played through on goal, and struck a sweet low drive from 25-yards, which left Worgan stranded, but the assistant, who was at least ten yards behind play all night, raised his flag.

Angels substitute striker, Jamie Cade, should have made it three after 68 minutes, firing inches past the foot of the right-hand post.

The Deres, who now had all seven substitutes on the pitch, created a couple of excellent chances to grab a draw.

Midfield star, Adrian Deane bent a right-footed free-kick around the wall from 30-yards, and was only inches away from finding the top corner.

And Collins called Worgan into his first save of the night in the 80th minute, but Tonbridge Angels were by far the deserved winners.

“Exactly the same as Saturday really,” Warrilow told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“I lost count the chances we had, trying to walk the ball into the back off the net, wrong choice of pass, poor finishing.

“We should have been done and dusted by half-time. Again, what happens, Erith go and get an equaliser and you’re under the cosh again!

“It’s only our second, what I’d class as our second game, so there’s some positives to take out of it, but there’s still bits to do, but it is pre-season.

“We should be killing teams off. I always want better but when you look around, there’s a new set of lads there, so you’ve got to be a bit patient.

“They’ve got enough quality, ability, if I knew I had this at the end of last season I’d be delighted.

“There’s some good youngsters that have come in and they’re going to learn the hard way, but we’ll persevere with that.

“We’ve got a lot of experience in the side and I’m asking those boys to step up to the mark and help.

“But from an attacking point of view, I’m happy tonight, just disappointed we’re not finishing sides off. We’ve got to do that because that was the story of our season last year.”

For Erith & Belvedere’s new joint-manager, Richie Radbourne, he admitted his side came up against quality opposition.

“We learnt they were a good side, definitely a good side, they’re experienced,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I tried a few players out, we tried a new formation to start which at times it worked but I feel we have to work on that. We wanted it against Cray Valley but due to circumstances we didn’t do it so we had to do it against a very good team, which isn’t ideal.

“It’s a start, we’re not a million miles away. We’re still looking at players, we’re still waiting and seeing what’s about. We’re talking to players from other clubs, higher clubs who we’re hoping to talk to within the next week.

“But what I’ve learnt out of that is basically I have a team out there who worked hard and towards the end of the game looked stronger and stronger and we looked like we could score goals.”

Radbourne, 29, who hasn’t ruled out the possibility of playing at the heart of the Deres’ defence this season when called upon, admitted the Angels proved why they play two leagues above the hosts.

“First half they showed that (class),” he admitted. “They definitely showed (that they are) two leagues in front of us. But I thought second half we got more involved.

“But it’s a learning curve for me, it’s my first job at this. I’ve got good people around me supporting me but it’s definitely a learning curve.”

Radbourne, meanwhile, praised his goalscorer Bell, who gave a highly-rated goalkeeper no chance with the equaliser - the home side’s first chance of the game.

“Nathan’s a good player,” he said. “He’s got bags of energy, he’s got bags of pace and he’s young. His direct, his power, he’s an impact player.

“There’s games where he’s going to absolute ruin players and there’s games where it’s not his day.

“We know what he can do and I’m glad his back at the club.”

Warrilow, meanwhile, demands more from Ferguson, who clocked 80 minutes in Welling tonight.

“I wasn’t happy with him second half to be honest with you,” he said. “I didn’t think he did much second half.

“I’ve just said to he boys about standards and we’ve set the standards. Again, it’s pre-season, but there’s more to come from him.”

Erith & Belvedere: Matt Bromby, Matt Bedford (Mitch Crawley 62), Danny Tipple (Louis Collins 77), Chris Hill (Huseyin Budak 59), Sam Cormack (Paul Gross 46), Aaron Burrett, Tommy Martin (Herbingi Grant 67), Adrian Deane, Lee Benevento (Sam Prett 53) Louis Collins (Andy Doerr 53), Nathan Bell (Joe Penny 59).

Goal: Nathan Bell 32

Booked: Lee Benevente 27

Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Tom Bryant, Jon Heath, Lee Minshull (Sonny Miles 59), Paul Butler (Richard Styles 46), Scott Gooding, Steve Ferguson (Jean-Michel Sigere 80), Anthony Storey, Paul Booth (Bobby Dixey 59), Jean-Michel Sigere (Jamie Cade 52), Kirk Watts.

Goals: Steve Ferguson 30, Jean-Michel Sigere 34

Referee: Mr John Barnard (Erith)
Assistants: Mr Ricky Adams (Rochester) & Mr Keith Challinger