I've got something in the pipeline, reveals Warrilow

Friday 18th December 2009

MARGATE begin a tough looking Christmas period in which they are scheduled to play Maidstone United twice, Tonbridge Angels, with a home game against a Sutton United side who have already beaten the Men from Hartsdown Park twice this season - weather permitting of course, writes Mike Green.

Before the snow arrived, Gate Assistant Manager Steve Beeks spoke to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after his sides 3-2 defeat at Sittingbourne in the Championship Manager League Cup on Wednesday night, and he was far from happy.

He said: "Every defeat is a kick in the teeth although the manner of this defeat was the most disappointing thing about the night.

“We went 2-0 down with 40 minutes to go and we should have then got the game by the scruff of the neck and really get stuck into Sittingbourne. Yet the lack of belief from our team and disappointing mental strength that they should was particularly frustrating."

With the crucial Christmas period now looming large, Beeks admitted that, "Every game in the Ryman Premier is competitive."

With a home game against Sutton United to kick off the Christmas campaign, both Beeks and Gate boss Mark Butler have had the chance to run the rule over their first opponents.

Beeks said: "Both Mark and I have seen them play in the last couple of weeks and we know it'll be another really tough game. The lads have got to pick themselves up after tonight and learn from their mistakes and move on!

“I saw the reverse fixture on the opening day of the season whilst I was scouting for AFC Wimbledon, and I think I'm right in saying that Sutton also knocked Margate out of the FA Cup, so hopefully we can turn things around on Saturday."

He added: "We hope that Joe Healy will be back on Saturday although we'll leave it as late as possible before deciding. We've missed him greatly in recent weeks with his quality on the ball and the way he can open up opposition defences. Fingers crossed he'll be back - Sam Groombridge who was unavailable at Sittingbourne should also be back at the heart of the defence. I really am disappointed after Wednesday's defeat, but we'll have a nights sleep and then get stick into getting ready for Sutton ion Saturday."

Beeks continued: “We've some big games coming up over Christmas starting with Sutton and hopefully the players will respond and pick themselves up especially after the way they played on Wednesday night. All I can say is that Mark picked a good night to miss... and I think that he may owe me one!!!"

TONBRIDGE ANGELS look to get back to winning ways this weekend, but face a tough trip through the Dartford Tunnel to face AFC Hornchurch - a side that boss Tommy Warrilow hasn't the best of records against.

Warrilow, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk during the week said, "They're our so called bogey side and now we've got to play them in their own back yard. We played them first game of the season, put in a good performance but they still nicked one at the end to win the game and do us again! Maybe this team we can have a bit of luck and maybe turn the tables."

Recently the Essex side have had a good run against Kent sides - included in that a recent victory at Princes Park that wasn't lost on the Angels boss.

He said: "They won at Dartford a coupe of weeks ago and what they do they do very well indeed. They're very direct and they're always a difficult side to break down. And since I've been at Longmead, I've always found that and I hope that on Saturday we can turn the tables on them for a change and get back on track after losing to Wealdstone at the weekend."

Warrilow then spoke of player movements in and out of Longmead this week.

He said: "We've let Jean Michel Sigere and Lewis Hamilton go this week - we had a chat a couple of weeks ago regarding the finances and so we've addressed that, but as two go we've brought Akwasi Edusei back from Margate. He hadn't been playing and wasn't in Mark Butler's plans and so we're more than happy to take him back as he gives us a different dimension up front."

Christmas could be crucial for the Angels - a point that the manager agreed with completely.

"This period of four / five games is a really important time,” said Warrilow. “We start at Hornchurch this week before two games against Hastings sandwiched around a trip to Margate - we got some really big games coming up and its important that the boys keep themselves fit over Christmas.

“We've got to be looking to get the points that will take us right into the middle of Play Off contention starting at Hornchurch.

“We've got to look after the guys as we've only got a small squad and if I want to bring in new blood we've got to let players go. I've got something in the pipeline but I've got to get the finances down even more, so whoever comes in wont be on the money of those who have gone."

Due to frozen pitches, both these games have been postponed and will be re-arranged for next year.

Visit Margate’s website: www.margate-fc.com

Visit Tonbridge Angels’ websites: www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk & www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/forum