There's no reason why we can't make the play-off's - Warrilow

Sunday 21st March 2010

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow has urged fans to crank up the atmosphere for Tuesday’s home clash against bitter-rivals Maidstone United, writes Stephen McCartney.

There is always a cauldron of passion when the Stones visit Longmead Stadium and with his side now seven games unbeaten (six wins and one draw) there is a buzz around the place.

“Maidstone, on paper, have got a very good side as well, so I’m not expecting any stroll in the park, especially it being a big derby,” Warrilow told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

The Angels came away from Harrow Borough with a 3-1 win at the weekend, a performance that pleased the boss.

He said: “It’s always a difficult place to go. They’re a good side, they’re around us and again the lads have gone there and absolutely done the basics, which was work hard and we played some football.

“I wouldn’t say it was comfortable, but it was a very good victory and, again, we could perhaps had a couple more. Their keeper has pulled off some great saves. I’m just delighted to keep the run going.”

Now eighth in the Ryman Premier League table, Tonbridge Angels are now only four points adrift of fifth-placed side Boreham Wood.

“I’ve gone on record saying I’ve never been down about where we were, I knew things weren’t that bad,” said Warrilow.

“There was a couple of bad performances but I had nothing to answer to because the bottom line was as we only took two points out of a load of games and it’s about the points and not the performances.

“I knew it wasn’t that bad and hopefully now we’re bearing the fruits and we’re turning the table a little bit.”

Coach Terry Sedge saw Maidstone United suffer a 3-0 defeat at champions-elect Dartford at the weekend and as a result they arrive at Longmead Stadium just one place (and four places) clear of the relegation zone.

“I hope Maidstone get themselves out of the predicament that they’re in at the moment,” said the Tonbridge boss.

“It’s a similar situation as we were in with budget cuts and players going out. Obviously we’ve had this takeover talk going on and people just trying to disrupt the club when it was going through a bad time.”

“We’ve now turned the corner on that and it’s made us stronger and pushed us on. I hope Maidstone sort themselves out. I’m one of them, I want them back in Maidstone again. Like Dartford and Dover, they’ve all had bad times and turned it into good times and hand on heart I hope Maidstone do that as well.”

With nine games remaining, Warrilow wants his side to continue their push towards the play-off’s.

“I said yesterday on the Radio that I’m fully aware Maidstone are only nine points behind us,” he said.

“You could lose it over night. One week you can play two games and you can be amongst the wrong end of it and that’s the message to the boys.

“At the moment the boys are buzzing. We’re calming them down and we don’t want to throw it away because we’ve worked hard to get where we are.

“We’ve got the season back on track and there’s no reason why we can’t make the play-off’s, but if we start getting complacent we could quite easily drop down the other end as well.”

Adding quality to his squad in recent weeks has kept his squad on their toes and former Maidstone United striker Meshach Nugent (shin) will not be fit-enough to face old side.

“I’ve managed to secure Adam Burchell (on an on-going deal from Dartford),” said Warrilow. “Tony Burman’s got a call-back on him so I’ve got a little cover up there. It will be great to have Shack (Nugent) back as well and have loads of competition and it will be good to have cover all over the pitch.

“I’ve changed a few things, the boys are working hard. It wasn’t that bad before but we’re looking a lot more solid at the back and stopped making sloppy mistakes and over playing in the wrong areas.

“Up front we’re a lot more clinical and that was the key to turning the season around. The work ethic of all the lads at the moment is second to nine. No one’s dropping their standards as they’re looking at the bench and there’s four or five players who can hold their own and keep their shirts.”

Looking forward to the west-Kent derby clash, Warrilow added: “Big game, hopefully a big crowd, hopefully a nice night and hopefully a nice win at the end of it to celebrate.”

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

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

Tonbridge Angels v Maidstone United

Ryman Premier League

Tuesday 23rd March 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JW