Tonbridge Angels 1-1 Welling United - We've deserved more than what we've got, says Tommy Warrilow

TONBRIDGE ANGELS  1-1  WELLING UNITED
Blue Square Bet South
Saturday 25^th August 2012
Paul Parkinson reports from Longmead Stadium

FRANNIE COLLIN’S 59^th minute penalty – his and Tonbridge Angels’ third goal of the season – cancelled out Harry Baker’s opener for Welling, but these were the highlights of a scrappy Kent derby at Longmead Stadium, which ended with Angels skipper Ollie Schulz being harshly seeing red with eleven minutes remaining.

A blustery wind didn’t make for a footballing spectacle, and with both sides employing a 4-3-3 formation, it was always going to be hard for players to find space, as both teams virtually cancelled each other out.

Angels boss, Tommy Warrilow, who saw his side climb off the foot of the Blue Square Bet South table with this point, said afterwards: “The conditions dictated the type of game, it was a very blustery day. I was happy with everything we’ve done today.

“Welling are a very good side, but I’m a little bit disappointed as I felt a number of big decisions didn’t really go with us today, and having Ollie (Schulz) off really hurt us.

“Overall, we’ve not being playing badly and we’ve deserved more that we’ve got. We’ve done well to compete with a Welling side that has been up there for the last two years.””

And he admitted he was pleased having Sonny Miles back in an unusual holding midfield role, adding, “It’s good to have Sonny back. He’s given me a few more options, but I thought it worked well today.

“Welling didn’t cause us too many problems in the first half. Second half, with the wind, their pace got to us at times, but I’m pleased with the overall performance. We went a bit narrow today, with George and Frannie buzzing in and around Mikel Suarez, mainly to stop Welling.””

Welling’s hopes of the three points weren’t helped by the loss of Luis Cumbers, who crumpled to the ground in the 2nd minute, appearing to twist awkwardly with no-one near him. After 3 minutes treatment, the Wings’ forward was stretchered off to be replaced by Baker, leaving Welling’s injured player-manager Jamie Day to reflect, “It’s too early to assess (Luis’ injury), hopefully it’s not as bad as we think, and we’ll know more in a couple of days’ time.

“It leaves Jon Main as our only recognised forward, and first half we didn’t hold the ball up as well as I know we can, although the wind played its part.””

But Day conceded ”I probably would have taken a point before hand, but after we’ve gone one up, I thought we went sloppy for 10-15 minutes, giving away free kicks, and whether it was a penalty or not, I’m disappointed we didn’t hold on.

“I don’t think they really troubled us or got many shots on target.”

“I don’t think it was a particularly good game, a scrappy derby game, but I think for us the disappointing thing was that we’ve gone a goal up and couldn’t see the game out. The top sides do that at our level, so it’s something we need to add to our game. But we’ve played 3 games and are unbeaten, so that’s something we can take into Monday.””

The first half was really a story of half-chances for Tonbridge, with the returning Miles coming closest to breaking the deadlock from a rasping 30-yard drive that skimmed the Welling crossbar.

Miles had earlier fired wide and skipper Schulz saw two headers fly over from Lee Browning corners.

At the start of the second half, Mikel Suarez showed a good touch and balance for a target man to release George Purcell into the box, but his cross-shot deflected wide, although the back-pedalling Sam Mott had cause for concern.

But immediately, Welling struck with their first attempt on target, as Baker picked up a long ball from the back, turned Danny Walder inside the box and fired in at the near post, where Lee Worgan would have hoped to do better.

Mott had to be brave to defend the lead at the feet of Collin, as the Tonbridge forward latched onto Suarez’s knockdown inside the 6-yard box.

But he was unable to do anything minutes later as Collin fired home from the penalty spot after Ben Martin had hauled Suarez to the ground. Welling’s Anthony Acheampong was booked in the aftermath, which could have had dire consequences for the defender.

Warrilow was full of praise for his front trio, saying, “That’s why I put Mikel in there. He’s not the most fluent player when you see him, but he did cause their two big lads problems. He was being clawed back, as he was for most of the game.

“It was nice to see Frannie get to 3 out of 3, but we’ve got to look to get more shots off. Frannie and George’s work rate off the ball has been first class this year as well.””

Understandably, Day saw the incident differently, and said, “I didn’t think it was a penalty, but we were giving a few silly free kicks away and if you do that, the ref is likely to blow for one in the area.””

Baker had another shot well saved by Worgan, as the ball bounced right in front of the Tonbridge keeper, and he was grateful that a header from the late-arriving Lee Clarke was straight at him as Welling tried to take advantage of the conditions.

On 79 minutes came the most controversial moment of the match, as Mr Fitch deemed Schulz’s clip of the heels on Welling substitute Theo Fairweather-Johnson a professional foul and issued a red card to the Angels’ skipper, even though there appeared to be a covering defender.

Warrilow, surprisingly calm about the apparent injustice, explained, “There was cover there from Judgey (Ben Judge) and I feel it was a harsh free kick anyway. But the card has come straight out, a straight red, and I thought the ref got it wrong.”

“There’s lots of things I thought were wrong today, and I cannot blame him for the result, it’s just that we had a big decision go against us on Tuesday costing us a winning goal, and today our skipper. I don’t know if we can appeal it, we’ll have to see what the position is with the procedure. But we’ve got it videoed and will have a good look at it and go from there.”
”
Even with the man advantage, Welling were unable to threaten the Tonbridge goal, and it was the Angels’’ substitute, Mark Lovell, who came close to claiming the three points as he headed over the advancing Mott, but agonisingly wide of the empty net.

Tonbridge Angels:  Lee Worgan, Danny Walder, Henry Muggeridge, Lee Browning, Ben Judge, Ollie Schulz, Sonny Miles, Chris Piper, George Purcell (Rory Hill 85), Frannie Collin, Mikel Suarez (Mark Lovell 82).
Subs: Nathan Koranteng, George Crimmen, Scott Chalmers-Stevens
 
Goal: Frannie Collin 59 (pen)

Booked: Ben Judge 44

Sent Off:  Ollie Schulz 79

Welling United:  Sam Mott, Loui Fazakerley (Malacki Hudson 82), Jack Oberstellar, Fraser Franks, Ben Martin, Anthony Acheampong, Scott Kinch, Lee Clarke, Luis Cumbers (Harry Baker 5), Jon Main (Theo Fairweather-Johnson 62), Kiernan Hughes-Mason.
Subs: Joe Oberstellar, Jamie Turner
 
Goal: Harry Baker 52
 
Bookeed:  Kiernan Hughes-Mason 39, Fraser Franks 53, Anthony Acheampong 58
 
Attendance: 592
Referee: Mr Carl Fitch (Ipswich, Suffolk)
Assistants: Mr Duncan Foreman (Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk) and Mr Jeff Lengthorn (Eltham, London SE9)