It's frightening what we can achieve - Warrilow

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow says his side are finally realising how good they are, writes Stephen McCartney.

The promotion chasing Angels inflicted Ashford Town (Middlesex) largest home defeat in living memory, romping to a 7-1 win in atrocious conditions last weekend.

And with a big weekend for the top six clubs in the Ryman Premier League fast approaching, the Angels are hitting top-form at the right time.

They welcome a Carshalton Athletic side that are unbeaten on their travels and in third place in the table at the Betterview Longmead Stadium on Saturday.

The top two sides, Dover Athletic and Staines Town lock horns at Wheatsheaf Park, whilst sixth placed Maidstone United welcome fourth placed Tooting & Mitcham United to Bourne Park.

“I was never going to panic but Saturday everything went right for us,” said Warrilow, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight.

"I’m not getting carried away with it. It’s a great result. Our last home game against Boreham Wood we were very good as well.

“It’s important we maintain this against Carshalton on Saturday.”

Whilst most managers take “one game at a time,” Warrilow is looking further ahead. His side play eight games in November and he wants to be as high in the table as possible as they go into the festive month of December.

“We’ve got another important game on Tuesday at Sutton,” he said. “November is a busy month for us so we’ll be looking to get maximum points and go into the Christmas month looking to stay in the play-off spot.”

“I’ll be honest, my philosophy is to win as many games as we can this month. They’re all big games this month. It’s a big month for us so it’s important we avoid injuries and suspensions and things like that.”

Sutton United - like Carshalton Athletic - were tipped to be challenging for promotion this season, but they’re currently sixth from bottom in the table - but are only eight points adrift off fifth placed Angels.

And Warrilow warns not to rule out any side that are presently at the wrong end off the table - after all we all know what happened to the Angels last season.

“There’s not a lot of points between us,” said Warrilow. “There’s not a big gap between second place and down the table.”

With such a heavy month approaching, Warrilow explained why he’s given his squad a night off training tomorrow night.

He said: “We’ve got eight games we’ll look after the boys in training, resting them. We’ll give them this Thursday off. We haven’t had a session off since the season started.

“There’s not been a great deal wrong, we’ve picked up performance wise in the last month (but) we’ve been punished every time we’ve made a mistake.”

Warrilow knows other sides talk about the Angels about serious promotion candidates and last Saturday’s 7-1 win over Ashford Town (Middlesex) proves it.

“The expectations this year are high,” he said. “I don’t mind that and rightly so.

“A few of the supporters have gone over the top with their criticism (after poor performances) but we’re not going to please everyone. We’re all aiming for the same goal and my job is to keep my head, relax the lads and let them perform like they did on Saturday.

“I have been speaking to a few managers (and) a few of them say we’re the sleeping giant. We have started slowly but we’re sitting in fifth. Once we get consistency it’s frightening what this squad could achieve.

“It won’t just happen, we have to make it happen. The lads earned their run last year and earned their 7-1 win Saturday. That’s how good we can be.

“The most pleasing thing before and after the game talking to the players, looking in their eyes, they do believe.

“They’re a young side and now they do realise the potential we do have here and we hope we’ll carry it on Saturday.”

Warrilow, meanwhile, has a selection headache ahead of the Carshalton game on Saturday - whether to start record signing, striker, Carl Rook.

“We had no Carl Rook Saturday, he missed his one game (through) suspension,” said Warrilow.

“There’s a lot of thinking to do. Rookie was on his game, one of our better players, but football’s a cruel game and sometimes if you miss out you have to be patient to get your shirt back.

“It’s very difficult to leave anyone out after that performance - no one wants to give their shirt up.”

The only major injury doubt, midfielder Michael Phillips, has been nursing a ligament problem underneath one of his toes for the past couple of weeks. Ade Oloruna, like me, is currently suffering with a bout of ‘flu.

Meanwhile, the club have announced that children under 16 will gain free entry for this game with a full paying adult.

Tonbridge Angels v Carshalton Athletic
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 8^th November 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Betterview Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JW