Tonbridge Angels 0-3 AFC Wimbledon - We were beaten by the better side, admits Warrilow
TONBRIDGE ANGELS 0-3 AFC WIMBLEDON
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 2nd August 2008
Stephen McCartney reports from Longmead Stadium
TOMMY WARRILOW admitted his Tonbridge Angels side lost to the better side - but slammed his players for putting in an under par performance against an AFC Wimbledon side that won the game too comfortably.
Striker Jon Main became AFC Wimbledon’s record signing when he left Longmead Stadium last November, shortly after Warrilow replaced Tony Dolby at the helm.
And he was gifted the opening goal of the Dons’ comfortable win today, scoring after just 88 seconds.
A suicidal backpass from central defender James Donovan from the left-back position, saw the ball roll past Lee Worgan and the 27-year-old hot-shot needed no invitation, sliding the ball into the bottom left-hand corner from close range.
Carl Rook, who was bought from Horsham following Main’s switch to south-west London, had a couple of headed chances during the game but was never going to beat Andy Little.
It went from bad to worse for the west Kent side as Main scored his second of the game after eleven minutes.
Goalkeeper Lee Worgan was dubiously penalised for bringing down Main as he tried to smother the ball from the striker’s feet but referee John Rowbury pointed to the spot.
Main’s right-footed spot kick was thumped into the right-hand corner of the net, sending the former Hastings goalkeeper the wrong way.
Main latched onto Samuel Hatton’s ball over the top but drilled an angled right-footed shot just past the far post - 71 seconds after his penalty.
And the former VCD Athletic and Cray Wanderers striker was denied by Worgan after 21 minutes, who made a low save, following a move involving Daniel Bocanole and Elliott Godfrey.
Stunned Tonbridge, meanwhile, enjoyed their best spell halfway through the half when they created their best two chances of this rare poor performance.
Central midfielder Tommy Tyne sent John Westcott on his way down the right and his cross was met at the far post by Fraser Logan, but his eight-yard glancing header was comfortably saved by Little.
But Little was relieved in the 23rd minute when he saw a thumping header from skipper Leon Legg clip the near post and bounce along the goal-line before being cleared to safety, after Michael Phillips chipped a free-kick towards the far post.
Former Hastings striker Ade Olorunda powered a header past the near post from three yards following a move from Donovan, who had intercepted a square pass from Kennedy Adjei, and sent Westcott to the by-line to whip in a cross from just inside the penalty area.
The quiet Rook did actually put the ball into the net early in the second half but he was caught offside, latching onto Donovan’s bullet header from the half-way line.
But Main completed his hat-trick after 53 minutes, with a typical poachers goal.
Worgan produced a fantastic flying save to prevent Hatton from scoring from the edge of the penalty area on the right-hand side but Main was on hand to score from the follow-up.
Worgan denied Elliott Godfrey from finding the bottom near corner with a smart low save in the 67th minute.
AFC Wimbledon boss Terry Evans made seven substitutions during this game and one of these changes, Dean Mason, had a couple of chances late in the game but wasted them both.
Main, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, thanked former team mate Donovan for helping him out.
“Thanks Donners, cheers mate,” he said of his first strike.
But the striker admitted Longmead Stadium will always have a special place in his heart.
He said: “This place is special to me down here and it’s good to be back and grab a hat-trick.”
Main has set his targets for Blue Square South football and is enjoying life at Kingsmeadow.
He said: “I always target 30 (goals), I’ve got to get thirty.
And he added: “All the boys say the same, we’re going to try our best and I suppose minimum is play-off’s.
“The club’s amazing, all the players get treated well, a bit spoilt to be fair but top notch.”
When asked if he’ll ever return to play for Tonbridge Angels, Main replied: “Yes, I reckon I would. Don’t know yet, not yet. This is where I started off really, I enjoyed it down here.”
Warrilow, also speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk didn’t enjoy anything about today’s game.
“Sometimes you’ve got to hold your hands up and today we got taught a bit of a lesson,” he admitted.
“I said to them (the players), you’re not going to get your own way all the time.
“I’m disappointed we didn’t re-organise quickly enough and I thought the body language from a few of the lads, I wasn’t happy with that either.
“All in all, Wimbledon have obviously improved a lot but we’re still at early stages.
“We’ve got to make sure we learn from today. We’re not going to get our own way all the time and today we didn’t.
“It hurts, which is good, but we’ve got a game Tuesday to get it out of our system and we learn from our mistakes today.
“Even though they kept possession and knocked it about well, I know it’s going to sound a bit silly, but all three goals could have been prevented, even though we lost to the better side.”
The former Horsham assistant manager revealed that Kirk Watts (ankle), Michael Phillips (toe) and Jamie Cade (ankle) were all struggling with knocks following this game.
Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Lewis Hamilton (Phil Starkey 73), Simon Glover, Tommy Tyne (Luke Piscina 75), Leon Legge, James Donovan, John Westcott, Michael Phillips (Jamie Cade 60), Ade Olorunda, Carl Rook, Fraser Logan (Kirk Watts 66, Fraser Logan 86).
AFC Wimbledon: Andy Little, Luke Garrard (Luke Pigden 75), Michael Haswell, Kenny Adjei (Anthony Finn 45), Jason Goodwife (Alan Inns 45), Ben Judge (Michael Peacock 73), Samuel Hatton (Stevie Gilbert 75), Tom Davis, Daniel Bocanole (Dean Mason 63), Jon Main, Elliott Godfrey (Jamie Cheesman 75).
Sub: Jack Turner
Goals: Jon Main 2, 11(pen), 53
Referee: Mr John Rowbury (Orpington)
Assistants: Mr Jeff Lengthorn (New Eltham) & Mr Michael O’Keefe (Dunton Green)