Harrow Borough 2-0 Tonbridge Angels - We were second best, admits Angels boss Tommy Warrilow

HARROW BOROUGH 2-0 TONBRIDGE ANGELS
Ryman Premier League
Easter Saturday 23^rd April 2011
Peter Guise reports from Earlsmead Stadium

The afternoon was bright and sunny at Earlsmead but that’s about as good as it got for the Angels in a match that Tonbridge viewed as the next step on the way to the play-off’s for a place in the Blue Square Bet South.

By 5 p.m. though this reverse did not have that sinking feeling attached to it that it might have had once the news that Canvey Island and Bury Town had also lost.

On a hard dusty pitch, the pre-match watering doing little to enliven the surface, Harrow Borough came to terms with the playing conditions with Angels manager, Tommy Warrilow, admitting afterwards that his side did not.

Chris Piper was denied as early as the 4^th minute thanks to some brave goalkeeping by the home side’s Nick Jupp and from then on Borough looked the more likely.

“They wanted it more than us,” Warrilow said afterwards. Rocky Baptiste, often a match winner wherever he has played on his travels, proved to be the inspiration for Harrow.

On 13 minutes, he released Dwayne Clarke on the edge of the Tonbridge penalty who should have done better than to blast his effort over.

But, it was Baptiste himself who opened the scoring just after the half hour mark when he tapped home from no more than a yard out after the Angels’ defence failed to deal with Tobi Jinadu’s long ball in to the area.

Baptiste turned provider just before the break, if somewhat inadvertently. He broke into the box, rolled his foot around the ball, and watched as it trickled toward the net only to see Danny Hart steaming in to thump the ball home to make sure.

Two down at half time, Tonbridge made a better fist of it in the second half, but the game was interrupted whilst the referee issued 8 yellow cards.

Indeed, both sides might count themselves fortunate to have ended the game with eleven players each. Carl Rook had been booked just after the turnaround and when he steamed in with a hard challenge on Danny Hart, Tonbridge supporters might have feared the worst. However, Rook got away with a stiff talking to rather than a second yellow.

Just after the hour, Rocky Baptiste was shown a yellow for a two handed shove on Sonny Miles that, on another day, might also have seen the much travelled striker making the journey to an early bath.
In between the second half card issues, both sides had chances, although Borough had the most.

For Tonbridge, Fraser Logan was unlucky to see his 66^th minute free kick deflected for a corner. Whilst for Borough, Baptiste was twice denied by Worgan who was at his best to save with his legs on 54 minutes and then pulled off a smart save from Baptisite’s goal bound header on 71 minutes.

“We were second best today,” said Warrilow, “we will have to bounce back from this in the last two games. We’ve done that before so there is no reason why we can’t do it again.

”When you see the other results (Canvey and Bury both lost today) it’s a missed opportunity.”

Despite this result, Tonbridge Angels remain in a play-off position, fourth, two points behind second place. Still all to play for then, starting with a home clash against Hastings United at Longmead Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm)!

Harrow Borough:  Nick Jupp, Kwasi Frempong, Ryan Watts (Lee Hall 70), Wayne Walters, Tobi Jinadu, David Ijaha, Danny Hart, Danny McGonigle, Rocky Baptiste, Kurt Morlese (Jerome Walker 83), Dwayne Clarke (Dean Fenton 80).
Subs:  Jonathan Constant, Danny Leech

Goals:  Rocky Baptiste 32, Danny Hart 44

Booked:  Rocky Baptiste 63, Ryan Watts 66, David Ijaha 78

Tonbridge Angels:  Lee Worgan, Jake Beecroft, Jon Heath, Scott Kinch, Ben Judge, Sonny Miles, Sam Jones (Adrian Stone 69), Chris Piper, Ade Olorunda, Carl Rook, Fraser Logan (Danny Walder 81).
Subs: Matt Hollyoak, Luke Blewden, Joe Hagan

Booked: Sam Jones 33, Carl Rook 47, Chris Piper 64, Ade Olorunda 70, Jon Heath 75, Sonny Miles 90

Attendance: 362
Referee:  Mr M Scott
Assistants: Mr I Kitchen & Mr S Scott