Kentish Football 
Tonbridge Angels 1-0 Folkestone Invicta - We could have made life easier, says Tommy Warrilow
Monday 03rd January 2011
TONBRIDGE ANGELS 1-0 FOLKESTONE INVICTA
Ryman Premier League
Bank Holiday Monday 3rd January 2011
Paul Parkinson reports from Longmead Stadium
To quote Tonbridge Angels' secretary Charlie Cole, today was Tonbridge's Perfect Day - "the game was on (their first since 27th November), the 3 points, a good crowd (589 - their best of the season so far) and money in the bank - it doesn't get much better".
After the enforced break due to the weather, Tommy Warrilow's team, which he had called "caged tigers" in the week, came out quickly, taking a deserved lead through Ben Judge's controlled 8th minute finish and arguably should have been four or five up at the break, before Folkestone fought back in the second half.
Reflecting on the game, Warrilow said: “The first half I was happy. We got into some good areas and should have taken more than a one goal lead in at the half.
“We never really got going second half, we went into our shell a bit, and if I was Folkestone, I'd be disappointed not to get anything out of the game.
“Based on the first half performance I think we deserved the win, but you could see as the game went on that we've been out of action for quite a time and couldn't kill the game off. The main thing was that we got the three points."
Folkestone manager, Neil Cugley was understandably disappointed with the result, saying, "I thought Tonbridge would get hold of the game more, but we didn't let them and that's got to be credit to our lads.
“Tonbridge have got some good players, but second half I don't think anyone would have begrudged us a point.
“We had three good chances and although they got one chance near the end, it was when we were committed up front, so I thought we should have got something out of the game.
“The two things I'm really disappointed in are that we started poorly and later on we didn't take the chances we created. Apart from that I was delighted with the effort we put in."
The first quarter of an hour was virtually one-way traffic towards the Folkestone goal, as Frannie Collin tested the visitors defence; first seeing a shot from the edge of the box deflected over, then beating Jack Delo to the ball, from Lee Browning's pass, only to see his shot trickle across the face of the goal.
It was no surprise when Tonbridge took the lead on 8 minutes, with Ben Judge coolly slotting the ball home at the back post for his first goal for the Angels, after Delo had missed Rory Hill's corner, and taken out two defenders in the process.
Immediately, Jay May will feel he should have doubled the lead, seeing his header deflect wide off Delo from a Collin cross, before Delo will feel he had efforts from Browning and Collin covered as they flashed past bar and post respectively.
Lewis Taylor, on his full debut, came close on 16 minutes, with a lung-bursting break from midfield, only to be denied by Delo's feet as he tried to round the keeper on the edge of the box.
Having dominated the early stages, Tonbridge were grateful that Lee Worgan was alert as Folkestone tried to claw their way back into the game.
First, Worgan grasped an Allan Tait effort after a mazy run from Folkestone's new signing, Antonio Gonnella.
Worgan then had to plunge full length to his right to keep Josh Burchell's effort out, but James Dryden could only find the side netting with his sliding shot.
Taylor curled an effort past Delo's right hand post after good work by Hill on 39 minutes, before Tonbridge thought they had doubled the lead in first half stoppage time when Browning's cross was powered home by May, only to be denied by the assistant's flag.
With both team’s affected by the Christmas layoff, the second half could never live up to the first, but Folkestone always looked to be the team more likely to score.
After Delo had saved a 30-yard free-kick from Collin, Frankie Chappell found himself unmarked in the 6-yard box, but could only half-volley Gonnella's corner over the bar on the hour.
Gonnella then found Dryden's head with a pin-point cross, which forced Worgan into another wonderful save, before Neil Cugley changed formation to try to press home Folkestone's advantage. The change nearly reaped its reward, when Tait found James Everitt in the area, but Everitt's shot sailed high over the bar.
With Folkestone committing numbers forward, Jake Beecroft broke through the middle of the field, drawing Delo to the edge of his area, only for the keeper to steal the ball away. The clearance fell to Danny Walder, whose cross found Collin with an empty net, but the former Dover forward's effort was lifted into the crowd.
Tommy Warrilow was realistic after the game, saying, "It was Lewis Taylor's full debut today and you could see how fit that boy is now and what he brings to the team. Lewis was unfortunate not to get onto the end of a couple of good moves, but with Lee Browning and Chris Piper also wanting to get forward, we've got to make sure we don't do too gung-ho. I asked Pipes to hold more, but it's something we've got to look at more because when we were attacked today, we looked quite open.
"But for most of the boys, it was their first game since November, so I'm not going to criticise them, but they could have made life easier. Fair play to Folkestone, they came out and had a real go. I've never known us give the ball away so cheaply. People you expect to hold the ball were giving it away in some bad areas today.
"If we were playing regularly and performed like that, I'd be concerned, but the first half was a good performance and we just couldn't get the second goal, and maybe more after that.
“I think it puts it in perspective; not only have we had the break since 27th November, but also the 2 10-day breaks earlier in the season as well. You can train all you want, but hopefully now, with the games coming thick and fast (a possible 9 games in January), we can address that and get some momentum going."
With his side still in the relegation zone (fourth from bottom), Cugley said he can’t afford to bring in the calibre of players that Warrilow has at his disposal.
He said: “Finance is a bit tight at the moment. We have to be careful with what we can and can't do and it may mean players leaving.
“We can't look further afield for quality, it's got to be local players. Sam's from Dover and Antonio's at university in Canterbury, so I suppose you can call them local, but it helps with training and team spirit because everyone's in together.
“The danger with the break is that you know you might get another one at some time. It's left things a bit flat, but no complaints, you've just got to get things done.
“This season's gone exactly how I thought it would. It's not come as a shock that we're not up at the top and that we're there or thereabouts in the relegation zone. We knew that could be when we went up, but we've got to get on with it and try to get enough points to stay up.
“I don't think we've been the same side since Jonesey (Paul Jones) got injured, but he's seeing a specialist this week, hopefully getting the all clear to start training again. Robbie Kember should be back for the next game, but the other two have only started today because of the games that have been off.”
Cugley added: “I am disappointed with the result really. We started poorly. It's one of the problems when you have a young team, they gave too much respect to the opposition and it's not just this game, it has been in other games as well.
“The two new lads did well; Sam Gore was a bit tired towards the end, but put a couple of good crosses in, and Antonio Gonnella gave us something different, a bit livelier.”
Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Danny Walder, Jake Beecroft, Lewis Taylor, Ben Judge (c), Scott Gooding, Lee Browning, Chris Piper (Sonny Miles 87), Jay May (Ade Olorunda 67), Frannie Collin, Rory Hill (Jon Heath 78).
Subs: Matt Hollyoak, Luke Blewden.
Goal: Ben Judge 8
Booked: Lewis Taylor 42, Scott Gooding 47
Folkestone Invicta: Jack Delo, James Everitt, Sam Gore, Liam Friend, Frankie Chappell, Roland Edge, Micheal Everitt (c) (Luke Webb 87), Antonio Gonnella, James Dryden (Simon Austin 78), Allan Tait, Josh Burchell (Liam Dickson 69).
Subs: Peter Williams, Roy Guiver.
Booked: Frankie Chappell 59
Attendance: 589
Referee: Mr Ian Fissenden (Gillingham)
Assistants: Mr Peter Beadle (Sevenoaks) & Mr Graeme Ions (Maidstone)
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd