I'm expecting a real battle at Staines, warns Tonbridge Angels boss Tommy Warrilow

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow says he wants his three recent signings to reignite his side’s season.


The Angels have enticed midfielder Chris Piper to see the error of his ways, returning after his release from Sutton United and Warrilow has brought in winger Nathan Koranteng, 19, from Boreham Wood and another winger, Joe Benjamin, 21, from Chelmsford City.

“We’re building and the three new signings look positive and look like they’re going to help us push on for the second half of the season and hopefully get amongst the top boys in the table,” said Warrilow.

“Pipes doesn’t need any introduction to anyone.  Nathan’s come along and settled in very well and Joe Benjamin showed glimpses when he came on (against Hampton & Richmond Borough in our last game).

“Joe’s still not fully match fit but that will come with games.  He wasn’t getting a lot of football at Chelmsford and he was a handful (against Hampton) and you can see what a real threat he can be.

“Nathan looks really promising really, he’s worked hard going forward and defensively and he’s chipped in with a goal already.”

Warrilow added: “I’m hoping there’s lots of things to come with those two and Pipes has just come back in and picked off where he left off.

“I’m hoping the three of them will ignite our season and get a little bit more of a spring in our step for the remainder of this year.”

Warrilow explained how he spent yesterday, a free-day without any first team football due to the club’s disappointing FA Trophy exit to Blue Square Bet North side Bishop’s Stortford.

“We had a meeting in the morning with some of the fans, just talk about how the season went and there was a reserve team game in the afternoon so six of the lads (first team squad) played in that,” he said.

“It was not a free day but it was quite a nice day.  We’ve seen some of the teams who we’re playing soon so we just monitored the boys in the reserves and saw how they’re doing.”

The Angels return to Blue Square Bet South action on Tuesday night with a trip to former Ryman Premier League rivals Staines Town.

The Swans go into the game sitting second-from-bottom in the table with 20 points from 23 games but they will go above third-from-bottom Bromley if Tonbridge fail to win at Wheatsheaf Park

When asked what he is expecting, Warrilow replied, “Exactly the sort you would expect, a real battle.

“They got a fantastic result the other week, 1-0 away to (league leaders) Woking so we have to make sure we go there with the right attitude and if we can pick up like the second half against Hampton & Richmond I’m sure we will be fine.”

A big crowd is expected at Longmead Stadium for the visit of Eastbourne Borough on Saturday.

“Yes, they’re another side who are sort of blowing hot and cold,” added Warrilow.

“My main focus is on us.  They’re a very, very good side.  We went down there and got a very good result at the start of the season and I’m sure they’ll look to come to us looking to avenge that and try and get their season back on track.”

The Angels sit in tenth place in their inaugural Conference South campaign with 31 points from 25 games – thirteen points adrift of fifth-placed Sutton United.

And Warrilow wants to start turning draws into wins.

“It’s been a bit of a funny sort of last couple of months really because we’ve not won games but we haven’t been losing games,” he said.

“The most important thing I said at the Bromley games was we didn’t lose and at the same time we have to turn these draws into wins.

“We’re getting there, we’re improving.  The performance at Hampton was probably the best we’ve played for a while.   We’ve had some battles over Christmas with Bromley, both teams thought they could have come away with more.”

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

Staines Town  v  Tonbridge Angels
Blue Square Bet South
Tuesday 17^th January 2012
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Wheatsheaf Park, Wheatsheaf Lane, Staines, Middlesex TW18 2PD