Staines Town 2-2 Tonbridge Angels - Angels outclass Staines in play-off final dress rehersal

The Angels dominated this second-versus-third showdown from start to finish, but Staines, fifteen points behind Dover, and fourteen points clear of the Angels, took an early lead through a deflected effort and Gareth Risbridger grabbed his second, totally against the run of play, with just thirteen minutes remaining.

But Tonbridge, roared on by around 25 vocal supporters behind the goal, fought back, and two late goals from Leon Legge and Scott Gooding, ensured the weakened Kent side came away with a deserved point. But they deserved three as they outclassed Staines throughout.

Warrilow was without Fraser Logan, Dwain Clarke, Lewis Hamilton, Phil Starkey and Ade Olorunda through injury, and travelled to Wheatsheaf Park with a makeshift defence, with midfielders Tim Olorunda (playing at right-back), and Lee Minshull (centre half) playing out of position.

Staines, who came away from Dover Athletic with a goal-less draw at the weekend, are a direct side with plenty of pace up front, but they were made to look very ordinary tonight.

They did, however, call Angels’ goalkeeper Lee Worgan into early action, but Elliot Onochie was never going to score with a driven shot.

But Staines goalkeeper Louis Wells made the first of his four smart saves, as Steve Ferguson, making his second appearance for Tonbridge following his move from Billericay Town four days ago, caused chaos with his long throws.

The ball found striker Carl Rook at the far post and he cut the ball back to Gooding, who drilled a right-footed drive towards goal, which was spilt by the goalkeeper, who recovered excellently to turn Jamie Cade’s follow up around the post.

But Staines Town broke the deadlock before the sixth minute mark, courtesy of a fortunate piece of luck.

Risbridger drilled a right-footed shot from 25-yards, which was comfortably heading wide, but the ball deflected off Minshull, who otherwise had an excellent game, and the ball deceived Worgan as it rolled into the bottom right-hand corner.

Wells made yet another fine save after thirteen minutes, as Tonbridge utilised Ferguson’s skills with his arms.

His throw was headed on by Gooding and Rook was denied his 24^th goal of the season at the far post, as his powerful header was beaten out by Wells at his near post.

In what proved to be a feast of goal-mouth action early on, Staines striker Marc Charles-Smith glanced Lewis Cook’s right-wing cross past the far post.

Tonbridge went on to dominate the game from the half-hour mark, creating - and squandering - many of the chances that came their way.

Storey’s 35^th minute free-kick released Cade through on goal, but his shot looped off the goalkeeper at the near post.

Then, five minutes later, Ferguson drilled a right-footed shot from twenty-yards, which flashed wide of the far post.

Warrilow then made a tactical change with Ferguson switching flanks and Tommy Tyne moving into a more central position, with Michael Phillips moving across to wide right to protect Olorunda at right-back.

That move stopped Staines’ attacking options and there was only one team during the second half, although it was a shock when Staines later grabbed a second goal.

However, five minutes into the second half, Minshull glanced Storey’s free-kick narrowly over Wells’ crossbar as the Kent side’s football was a joy to watch on a slick playing surface.

It was hard to believe that the Kent side were still losing, especially as a gilt-edged chance went begging just before the hour-mark.

How Cade missed, only he will know, as he fired the ball over the bar from six-yards out, after Tyne’s low cross from the right was flicked on by Gooding at the near post.

A slip in concentration by Legge at the back gave Staines a chance after 63 minutes, but thankfully Onochie, who was released by Charles-Smith, ran on to drill his right-footed shot wide.

It was going to be one of those nights for Tonbridge as, despite dominating throughout, they couldn’t find a way past Wells.

Another Ferguson throw caused problems in the home side’s defence and Cade glanced his header straight into the goalkeeper’s grateful arms as the ball bounced about in the six-yard box.

Previously before Ferguson’s arrival, Legge was the man to hurl the ball into the penalty area, but now Legge can be used to win the aerial challenges inside the penalty box.

And this was the case in the 76^th minute when Legge flicked on Ferguson’s throw at the near post for Minshull to send an overhead kick over.

Typically, Staines went up the other end and doubled their lead, totally against the run of play, a minute later.

Risbridger thought he had completed a smash-and-grab raid on the Angels, cracking an unstoppable right-footed drive from 30-yards, which flew past spectator Worgan and into the top left-hand corner.

But something had to be done to shut up the cocky teenage boys at the front of the main stand, and those Staines fans who chanted “going up” as the second goal flew into Worgan’s net.

Thankfully, Tonbridge refused to give up, and two late goals brought their just rewards, deservedly pulling a goal back with just nine minutes of this enthralling encounter remaining.

Storey’s long free-kick was powered towards goal by the unmarked Minshull inside the penalty area and Legge, lurking at the far post, was adjudged to have applied the final touch.

However, justice prevailed just nineteen seconds into four minutes of stoppage time, through a scrambled effort from Gooding.

Ferguson’s looped a throw into the Staines penalty area and this was flicked on at the near post by Legge and as Wells let the ball slip through his hands, Gooding slid in to bundle the ball over the line.

Wells then denied Tonbridge a deserved winner when Olorunda’s run and cross from the right was dug out underneath his feet by Cade, but the goalkeeper capped a fine display by smothering the shot.

And Warrilow, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, admitted, “That’s the least we deserved - we were the better team on the night.

“They’ve got two goals completely, one’s a deflection and the second one was just against the run of play, but again, I can’t ask for anymore from the lads, who have showed tremendous character.

“It’s another patched up side, I’ve got half a dozen players out, one failed a fitness test and I’ve got square pegs in round holes and they’ve dug in and pulled off a great result.”

Warrilow was left scratching his head as to how his side were 2-0 down after 77 minutes in a game that they dominated throughout.

But he admitted he always knew his side would bite back.

“It was a kick, a real kick in the teeth,” he said. “We were all over them in the second half, it was completely against the run of play.

“At two-nil, I always say the next goal’s really important and we got the one back. Staines’ body language, you can tell we were up for it. We pushed Leggy up, not just sat back, we’ve cashed in with the equaliser and to be honest in the end we should have won it.

“I was disappointed when the second (Staines goal) went in, but the way the game was going, whoever got the next goal would carry on and finish the game the stronger.”

Staines beware! You’re going to blow the Ryman Premier League play-off final for the second successive season.

And Warrilow agrees, saying, “No disrespect to all the lads who are out there, I’ve got a lot of lads out at the moment.

“Scott Gooding’s playing left-back, a midfield player playing centre halve and my other midfield player playing right back. They’ve all done great for me.

“If I can come here with a team like that - and I think we’ve dominated the game and could have won it - psychologically I think they’d be more concerned about us than us worried about them (in any play-off final).

“It’s a physiological thing as well. The play-off’s are coming up, let’s get there first, there’s a lot of teams chasing us, but that’s a massive confidence booster for the club and hopefully all the supporters that travelled here to witness it.”

Warrilow is expected to make a new signing on Wednesday night - the final piece in a promotion winning campaign jigsaw.

“I am trying to bring another player in and hopefully that will happen tomorrow,” he added.

Staines Town: Louis Wells, Dave Sargent, Jake Newton, Danny Gordon, Andre Scarlett, Leroy Griffiths, Gareth Risbridger, Dean Thomas, Lewis Cook, Elliot Onochie (Scott Taylor 85), Marc Charles-Smith.
Subs: Richard Butler, Craig Maskell, James Courtnage, Marien Ifura.

Goals: Gareth Risbridger 6, 77

Booked: Gareth Risbridger 31, Leroy Griffiths 52

Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Tim Olorunda, Tommy Tyne, Lee Minshull, Leon Legge, Scott Godding, Steve Ferguson (Micky Collins 90), Anthony Storey, Jamie Cade, Carl Rook, Michael Phillips (John Westcott 85).
Sub: Sonny Miles.

Goals: Leon Legge 81, Scott Gooding 90

Booked: Anthony Storey 35, Carl Rook 53

Attendance: 283
Referee: Mr Mark Mellor (Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire)
Assistants: Mr Paul Bateman (Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire) & Mr Philip Wideson (Hughenden, Buckinghamshire)