I'm gutted for the players that we're still around the relegation zone - O'Connell

Tuesday 06th April 2010

MARGATE boss Iain O’Connell thought he should have got more than a goal-less draw at play-off chasing Tonbridge Angels on Bank Holiday Monday, writes Stephen McCartney.

O’Connell was left frustrated as his in-form team held Tommy Warrilow’s side to a goal-less draw at Longmead Stadium - a result that stretched their unbeaten run to nine - but leaves the Thanet side just one place above the Ryman Premier League danger area.

In an interview with www.margate-fc.com, O’Connell said: “I’m gutted! We should have won it, simple as that. We were the better side, we’ve missed two absolute sitters and how we’ve missed them, I really don’t know.

“But again, the boys have shown what they’re made of.”

Margate are three points clear of fourth-from-bottom side Carshalton Athletic, although the Surrey side have a much better goal-difference.

Margate have only four games remaining - their next one is an away game at Wealdstone on Wednesday night - but signs are encouraging that the Essex based manager - who played for the club during it’s Conference days - can lead the club towards safety.

“I’m gutted for the lads because they’ve gone nine games unbeaten and we’re still around the bottom four,” said O’Connell, who demands pride and passion from his players every time they take to the field.

“They deserve more than that for the way they’ve played, but it’s a season long thing and the table never lies.”

The Margate side has changed for the better since O’Connell’s arrival as manager, bringing in the likes of Jamie Turner, Nick Barnes, Jay Saunders and James Pinnock from Maidstone United has added quality and strength to the side.

He added: “I like what I’ve got in the changing room. There’s been one game where I’ve had to go in there (at half-time) and go mad - I didn’t throw cups of tea about - but let them know how I feel and one out of 11 isn’t bad is it?”

O’Connell’s first game in charge was a 3-0 home defeat to Tonbridge Angels - and he admitted he is pleased with the progress that his side have made since then.

“We’ve come a massive way. That was my first game in charge. We played four at the back, it didn’t suit us but we remedied that pretty quickly.”

Wealdstone have slipped down the table into eleventh place as a result of a congested fixture pile-up, and the Ruislip based side will have to play seven more league games in fourteen days after Margate’s visit.

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game.

Quotes courtesy of www.margate-fc.com

Wealdstone v Margate

Ryman Premier League

Wednesday 7th April 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 6JQ