It's important we stay positive during testing times, says Warrilow

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow says he’s down to just ELEVEN fit players for their crunch game with Carshalton Athletic on Tuesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

Ade Olorunda (foot); Carl Rook (knee); Tommy Tyne (thigh); Simon Glover (ribs); Lee Minshull (suspended) and fringe player Bobby Dixey (ankle ligaments), have all been ruled out for the vital Longmead Stadium clash.

Warrilow, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk this evening, revealed Minshull, a recent signing from Ramsgate, completes his three-match ban after Saturday’s trip to Boreham Wood and Rook, who signed a new contact last week to keep him at the club until May 2011, is expected to return from his injury in two weeks time.

Warrilow is hopeful that both Ade Olorunda and Tyne will be fit for Saturday’s trip to Boreham Wood, although he’s not sure about the extent of Glover’s injury as the versatile player has switched off his mobile telephone today, having suffered breathing difficulties at yesterday’s game.

Warrilow will not risk any of his players for the crucial game against Carshalton Athletic, a side that in fourth place in the Ryman Premier League table.

“I’ve only got eleven players to pick from.,” he revealed. “Ade Olorunda has got a problem with his foot, that’s why we’re not rushing him back. If you put him in now you risk losing him for the run in.

“I’ve made some calls today, I’ve spoken to (vice-chairman) Garry (Pass) about getting somebody in, I want somebody in for the right areas and they’re hard to find.

“I’ve got eleven fit players for Tuesday, that’s why I’m saying to the supporters that they have to be patient and get behind us.

“We’re patching them up and getting them out there.

“I spoke to Garry to try and get a forward in, that’s great, but in the next week I should have all five back and gets me back to my squad.

“It’s a case of digging in deep and just staying in the play-off spots.”

Yesterday’s 3-1 home defeat to Sutton United was marred by the shocking antics of visiting manager Paul Doswell, who lashed out at Tonbridge skipper Anthony Storey.

And Warrilow criticised Doswell for creating a bad atmosphere between the two clubs - on a day that was supposed to pay tribute to the late Angel Jack Maddams.

“That’s down to their manager, he’s created the atmosphere,” said Warrilow.

“No disrespect to any of the clubs, I’m bigger and better than that and my job is to be professional and focused about it.

“There’s no point commenting on it because that’s what the fella (Doswell) likes.

“I saw nothing yesterday, their performance won’t frighten me. They played how I felt they would.

“We had four, stroke five chances in the first half to put chances away and it came back to haunt us.”

Warrilow rued his side’s missed chances during the fixture that is fast becoming a grudge match between the two clubs.

“I’d be perfectly honest, I thought the first half we were the better side and we should have converted some of the chances we had,” he bemoaned.

“Unfortunately, we’ve gifted them an own goal (from Leon Legge) on the stroke of half time, which took the wind out of our sails a little bit.

“The second half was a little bit even. I knew they would be stronger than us because of the players I had to pick from, but again I was disappointed with all the goals we’ve let in.

A frustrated Warrilow added, “When they went 3-0 up it flattered them and hopefully if we meet them in the play-off’s, I’m positive if I’ve got my full squad to pick from, I see nothing there to be scared of them.”

Warrilow revealed he’s read comments from the club’s supporters and disagreed with some of them.

He said: “Some of the comments were a little bit unfair. We were the better side over the ninety minutes, admittedly the second half they got more second balls and they were physically stronger than us.

“On another day, some of the chances go in and if we get the rub of the green, it’s a different story.”

But Warrilow has issued a rallying cry to everybody at the club to get behind his threadbare squad for the clash against Carshalton Athletic.

The Robbins defeated Tonbridge on the final day of last season to maintain their Ryman Premier League status and have turned around their fortunes as they go into the match sitting in fourth place in the table with 49 points from 28 games, one point fewer than the west Kent giants.

The Angels are third in the table - ten points behind second placed Staines Town - and are six points clear of sixth placed Dartford.

“There’s still 36 points to play for as far as I’m concerned,” said Warrilow. “There’s no way complacency will set in, but it’s difficult with the injuries and suspensions. It’s not an excuse, it’s fact. Things are here to test us. It’s important we stay positive.

“By no means we’re safe being third and sitting back. I’m looking down at (fifteenth placed) Billericay, there’s still a lot of teams fighting for the play-off spots.”

With the match clashing with Champions League matches on the box, Warrilow urges the Longmead faithful to support their real club.

“We had a good gate Saturday and I thought the supporters were superb,” he said.

“It’s an important time of the year for us with 12 games to go, it’s vital they come down. They do make the difference, it really does.

“If we can make it a hostile environment for Carshalton and opposing teams, it does help us. With the credit crunch it’s important that the town gets behind the team.

“We have improved wholesale as we’re looking at promotion, that’s the target. Last year was to keep us in the league, that’s how far we’ve come.

“We don’t want to throw it away and we need supporters to get behind us and this is when you become a club with the injuries or suspensions (crippling the squad)."

Visit Tonbridge Angels website: www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk

Tonbridge Angels v Carshalton Athletic
Ryman Premier League
Tuesday 24^th February 2009
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Betterview Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JW