Kentish Football 
Tonbridge Angels 0-4 Cray Wanderers - We need to stick together, says defiant Angels boss
Tuesday 21st September 2010
TONBRIDGE ANGELS 0-4 CRAY WANDERERS
Ryman Premier League
Tuesday 21st September 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Longmead Stadium
CRAY WANDERERS assistant manager Joe Francis hailed French striker Laurent Hamici as “different class” - as his hat-trick stretched the Wands unbeaten run to six games and took the club up to fourteenth place in the Ryman Premier League table - and piled more pressure on Angels boss Tommy Warrilow.
Tonbridge Angels created the better goalscoring chances during a dire first half but failed to convert them - before Hamici and Carl Gibbs did the damage during a clinical second half, which sent most in a lower-than-normal crowd of 328 heading towards the exit long before the final whistle.
Whilst Cray Wanderers would have enjoyed their stay at Longmead Stadium tonight, the home faithful were disgusted by a shocking performance from the team in blue, a side that are lacking in confidence and belief and are playing as eleven individuals who are just going through the motions, which was a stark contrast to their Kent rivals as all of Cray’s outfield players joined in with the celebrations for their last two goals, showing their trademark unity and team spirit - something that Francis and boss Ian Jenkins have drilled in their players over the years.
Although the first half was pretty dire, Cray Wanderers’ only chance saw Danny Phillips whip in a cross from the right for the towering Hamici to loop his header across goalkeeper Lee Worgan and past the far post.
Tonbridge Angels did create a hat-trick of chances, only for former Dover Athletic striker Frannie Collin to fail to convert them.
Sam Jones (who travels from Margate) delivered an excellent cross from the left and Collin rose with Cray right-back Alex Bentley (who later went off with a hamstring strain) but sent his header sailing past the far post.
Cray Wanderers goalkeeper Dave King made his one and only save just five minutes before the break when he advanced to block Collin’s low shot after Jake Beecroft intercepted the ball and slipped the striker through on goal.
But Collins’s third chance should have been tucked away. Beecroft slid the ball through in between Mark Willy and John Guest but his angled drive slid past King and rolled agonisingly past the foot of the far post.
It all went horrible for Tonbridge Angels after the break as they put in a woeful performance as Cray Wanderers clinically scored four times, tearing a shaky home defence to shreds with some fine passing and movement.
Hamici picked the ball up down the right and from a very, very acute angle, he tried to drill the ball past Worgan at his near post, but the keeper stuck out a leg to block and seconds later Hamici crossed for Steve Lozano to head into the keeper’s grateful arms.
Cray Wanderers opened the scoring after 58 minutes when Lozano slipped a delightful pass through to Hamici who was given time and space to beat Worgan at his near post with a right-footed drive from 12-yards out.
The Magic Wands doubled their lead after 65 minutes when a clearance from Tonbridge’s central defender Liam Harwood went straight to Hamici down the right and instead of shooting the Frenchman stroked the ball across goal for Gibbs at the far post to sweep the ball into an empty net from just a yard out.
The disgusted Angels faithful had seen enough by the time that Cray Wanderers made it three with just eight minutes remaining, as Cray scored with every chance that they had.
Lee Browning gave the ball away in midfield and Hamici fed Gibbs down the right and after evading a challenge from Tonbridge left-back Jon Heath, Gibbs delivered an excellent cross for Hamici to head down and past Worgan, to the cries of “we can see you sneaking out,” from the jubilant small band of Cray supporters behind the goal.
Hamici was mobbed for the second time when he converted his second hat-trick of the season - taking his goalscoring tally to ten goals for the season already - when he scored the fourth goal just four minutes later.
Warrilow was clearly angry about a lack off an offside flag for Gibbs as he attempted to latch onto a ball over the top - but the ball rang loose for Hamici who embarrassed a shocking Tonbridge defence and smashed his shot into the roof of the net, giving an exposed Worgan no chance.
After being held to a goal-less draw by Canvey Island at Hayes Lane at the weekend, it’s been a good week for Cray Wanderers.
“We said at half-time that we sort of carried on playing the way we were playing from Saturday, which our front players weren’t clinical enough,” Francis told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.
“I think we didn’t break with any pace. We managed to put a little bit of fire in the belly of the front four and the midfield and we picked them off - we tore them to shreds.
“The timing of, when Stevie Lozano set the first one up for Laurent, it’s the timing of the pass and when Laurent gets on the angle of the 18 yard box and cuts inside you have the feeling he’s going to score.
“You know he wants to develop his all round game and we’ve been working on him ever since he’s been here in pre-season and he’s a top, top kid and he’s willing to learn.
“He’s top goalscorer in the league by a mile and he’s scored his second hat-trick of the season. Well done Laurent!
“Can we keep him? Yes, of course we can! He loves it here, he loves the boys. It’s the best football he’s played in his career to date. He’s a young lad and he loves it here and we love him.”
Reflecting on the game, Francis said: “Kingy has saved us and they looked a lot brighter in the first half - we could’ve been coming in behind.
“Sometimes games turn on a little bit of magic which was our first goal but every single goal we scored tonight was different class and it was about picking them off, choosing the right passes and another mention is Carl Gibbs, on his debut. I thought he did really well with Laurent in the second half and he was a threat as well. I mean his little bit of magic for Laurens headed goal was different class.”
Francis has told the Tonbridge Angels fans to stick by their manager, as they either went home or were stunned to silence as the goals went in.
“Listen, they’ve got to dig in and support him,” he said.
“Tommy knows how to run a team. He knows how to look after players. He’s a good manager and the crowd need to stand behind him.”
Ashford resident Francis added: “Well, it’s easy, isn’t it, when you’re winning. You’re either a supporter or you’re not a supporter!
“I went to Chelsea when I was four ‘til I was 10-year-of-age and I never saw them win for six years because the games my dad chose they lost or drew every game. It didn’t deter me. Support is about thick and thin, so they’ve got to stick by him.”
A defiant Warrilow, meanwhile, has promised changes and will bring in players that will show the fight to climb the league table.
A club like Tonbridge Angels should NOT be languishing in the bottom five (just one place above the relegation zone) with only 7 points from 8 games.
A hurting Warrilow told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards: “I think you saw the best of us first half. Second half, to be honest, I thought it was a real scrappy game. We shot ourselves in the foot with the goals and the fourth one doesn’t do any favours score wise, but we just never got going second half.
“But we should’ve been done (and dusted) by half-time. We should’ve gone in three up. We’ve created a lot of chances in the first half but decision making, the final ball, just too many touches, we’ve got into areas but just not killed it off. Obviously the second half they’ve taken their chances.
“It looks like we’ve taken a well good hiding. I didn’t think, no disrespect to Cray, I don’t think they played brilliantly in the second half. We just caused our own downfall and they finished their chances.”
Warrilow has promised to get shot of the players that are just going through the motions during the 10 day break before their next game - at home to AFC Hornchurch on 2 October.
He added: “But I’m more disappointed with the body language. You could hear a pin drop around the ground and it’s just a disappointing night again.
“I’m looking for players as I have been doing over the last two weeks. I’ve just got to be patient. It’s just a bit too early in the season for players to want to leave clubs but it’s not through the lack of trying.
“I was angry as much as anybody else down here but I’m not going to walk away - I’m going to sort it out!
“There’s no point people, if they don’t want to come down, don’t come here. There’s no point shouting stuff at the end. It just doesn’t make any sense! It’s blatantly obvious we haven’t got a game on Saturday (after losing to Combined Counties League minnows Guildford City at home in the FA Cup) and you get stupid comments from some people.
“We need everyone to stick together. I’ve just got a feeling a few have given up on us already and if that’s the case their better off not coming.
“Listen, I’m not papering over the cracks. It’s not been right but I’m addressing it. Every year I seem to have it down here and every year I do sort it out and I get reaction out of it and I’ll do it again this year. Like I said, I’m sorting it out but we do need to stick together.
“They’ve got to get behind the lads and lift them. It wasn’t going right but that’s when you need the fans as well as the players. I just ask us all to stick together.
“We’ve been in this position before, it’s very early in the season. I’m still talking to players. I’m glad we’ve got a 10 day break because it gives me a chance to release some and get some fresh bodies in and that’s what I’ve been trying to do. It’s a shame because on Saturday we got a great result at Concord and we’ve just thrown it away here at home to Cray.”
When asked the type of player that he is looking to bring into the club, Warrilow replied, “After the second half, someone with a big heart, a leader, a talker. It’s through the middle we’re struggling and I’m not happy with my centre halves. We need another striker obviously with Boothy (Paul Booth) going and Sherwin (Stanley) having work commitments but whoever comes around if it’s better than what I’ve got then I’ll address it.”
Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Jon Heath, Danny Walder, Liam Harwood, Sam Jones, Scott Kinch, Kirk Watts, Lee Browning, Jake Beecroft, Frannie Collin, Rory Hill (Adam Burchell 63).
Subs: Jacob Mingle, Matt Hollyoak, Liam Baker, Luke Blewden.
Booked: Jon Heath 73, Lee Worgan 76
Cray Wanderers: Dave King, Alex Bentley (Tyrone Sterling 72), Adam Cottrell (Rhys Coleman 68), Allan McLeod (Ross Lover 88), Mark Willy, John Guest, Aaron Day, Steve Lozano, Laurent Hamici, Danny Phillips, Carl Gibbs.
Subs: Kieran McCann, Frankie Sawyer.
Goals: Laurent Hamici 58, 82, 86, Carl Gibbs 65
Booked: Carl Gibbs 33, Allan McLeod 57, Mark Willy 58, Aaron Day 61
Attendance: 328
Referee: Mr Paul Kelly (Chatham)
Assistants: Mr Ronald Albert (Catford, London SE6) & Mr Freddie Collins (Beckenham)
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd