Tonbridge Angels 1-2 Dover Athletic - Warrilow blasts Ref as his side lose controversial battle

But the current Ryman Premier League leaders booked their place in Monday’s second qualifying round draw as they fought back from Carl Rook’s twice taken penalty, with Jon Wallis and Shaun Welford taking their goalscoring tallies to four for the season.

Unfortunately this game failed to live up to its billing but at least both sets of supporters’ backed their sides with passionate support, although the attendance of 797 was disappointing to say the least.

The Angels switched their formation from their tried and tested 4-4-2 formation to 4-5-1 in an attempt to stifle Dover Athletic’s star-studied midfield.

They made two changes to the side that defeated Billericay Town 3-2 in midweek with Jamie Cade relegated to the bench and Chamel Fenelon, who wasn’t allowed to play in this FA Cup tie as he’s on loan from Blue Square Premier side Lewes.

So in came winger John Westcott and midfielder Tommy Tyne, who put himself about against his former club.

Dover Athletic made just one change with defender Craig Cloke coming in for James Rogers, although Cloke and fellow central defender Ollie Schulz were both substituted before the break due to injuries.

New signing, Giuliano Grazioli, a striker who arrived from Blue Square South side Braintree Town, came off the bench late on and almost scored on his Dover Athletic debut.

Tonbridge’s change of tactics meant this game failed to live up to its billing and was a poor game that will be remembered by its controversial incidents.

It took almost twenty minutes for the first chance of the game, and that fell to Dover Athletic midfielder Wallis.

Welford and Lee Browning combined down the left and Welford’s left-footed cross was met by Wallis at the far post but he stroked his shot agonisingly past the right post.

Former Dover Athletic striker Rook struck a right-footed volley from thirty-yards over the crossbar before the first controversial moment.

Leon Legg launched the ball into the penalty area with one of his trademark long throws and with Dover Athletic defender Craig Cloke grounded, John Whitehouse’s left knee collided with Cloke, which resulted in ripping the defender’s ear, and Whitehouse struck Rook as he glanced his header wide.



CRUNCH:  Dover Athletic defender Craig Cloke (grounded) takes the full force of John Whitehouse's left knee, during the incident that lead to Tonbridge Angels being awarded a penalty.
Photograph courtesy of David Couldridge www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/forum

Referee McCoy pointed to the spot and after the protests died down, Whitehouse seemed to have made amends with a smart low save with his legs from Rook’s right-footed spot-kick.

But the assistant on the dug-out side ordered a re-take and Rook kept his nerve to fire past the diving Whitehouse to find the bottom right-hand corner to give the hosts the lead after 34 minutes.

Cloke was immediately substituted for Jerahl Hughes, but Dover levelled proceedings within five minutes when Wallis drilled a right-footed shot through a crowd of players from 25-yards, across Worgan to nestle inside the bottom far corner.

For the rest of the half, which finished with 52:49 on the clock, Dover Athletic defender Ollie Schulz took a blow to his ribs, which resulted in the visitors playing with John Keister and Matt Fish at the heart of their defence during the second half.

However, with almost 55 minutes on the clock, we witnessed something that hardly happens at this level of football.

An empty plastic bottle looped over the crossbar from the North Stand and struck Worgan, who dramatically collapsed onto the ground like a foreign Premier League footballer.

Afterwards, referee Mr McCoy was seen writing notes on the incident into his notebook.

After treatment the former Hastings United goalkeeper made a comfortable save as Hughes tried his luck with a right-footed drive from 25-yards.

Just past the hour Hughes saw his low shot blocked by Worgan but Dover Athletic should really have doubled their lead immediately after.

Alan Pouton’s cross from the right was knocked down by Welford but Wallis blazed over from just inside the penalty area.

But Dover Athletic deservedly sealed the win after 66 minutes, especially as they played much better during the second half.

Wallis dinked the ball down the right flank for Frannie Collin to latch onto and his cross was met by Welford’s deft header from six-yards which gave Worgan no chance.

Star Nicky Southall, on loan from Coca-Cola League Two side Gillingham, had to switch positions for the second half, and his 73^rd minute free-kick presented a chance for Collin, who swept the ball agonisingly past the far post with a left-footed shot.

Whitehouse dived low to his right to prevent Rook finding the bottom corner with a right-footed drive but Tonbridge Angels were denied a last-gasp equaliser thanks to the referee’s whistle.

Kirk Watts raced down the left and reached the by-line and his cross was met by a thumping header from Rook, but the goal was ruled out as the striker climbed on defender Dean Hill.



AGONY:  Tonbridge Angels striker Carl Rook (left) thought he had earnt his side a lucrative replay at Perrys Crabble on Tuesday night but this goal was ruled out as he was leaning on Dover Athletic defender Dean Hill.
Photograph courtesy of David Couldridge - www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/forum

That was timed at 46:15 and Dover Athletic had their third goal chalked out three minutes later.

Giuliano Grazioli almost opened his goalscoring account with his new side.

Despite the former Barnet striker playing a cameo role, he was denied by a flying save from Worgan, who responded well to thwart Welford only to see Browning stab the ball home from close range - but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Thirteen seconds later this Kent derby finished, but Hessenthaler, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, was pleased that his side won this ugly battle.

“They’re a difficult side to play against, they play a certain way, get the ball from back to front very quickly and they’re very effective at it,” said Hessenthaler.

“First half was a pretty dour first half, not many chances. We created one good chance where Jon (Wallis) should have probably scored but it took a little bit of a bobble to be fair to him and they had a long throw that we didn’t deal with and we’ve given a penalty away.

“Obviously the linesman’s seen it, says the keeper’s moved and they missed the penalty and they’ve had to re-take it and they scored.

“So it was an uphill battle really but second half we felt we needed to get the ball down, we got sucked into the way they played a little bit and I thought we did that and Jon Wallis scored a very good goal in the first half to get us back into the game - a great strike and the winning goal was fantastic.

“A great cross from Frannie (Collin), we’ve been asking Shaun (Welford) to do that all season, get onto the back post and he’ll score goals and that’s what’s happened.

“They made it very difficult for us, they’re a decent outfit and they will certainly make it hard for teams, especially at home.”

Hessenthaler admitted he was sorry for his outburst at the match referee, which resulted in him having to watch the game from the sidelines.

“Just frustration, more than anything,” he said. “I’ve apologised to the referee, I’ll take the ban, I’m sure I’ll be banned, he’s going to report me.

“I said a few things that you regret afterwards but I apologised to him after the game. That’s it. It’s heat of the moment stuff and the passion comes out of you and you want your team to do well.

“We wasn’t particularly great in the first half, you take it out on officials so that’s wrong as far as I’m concerned and I’ll take the punishment. I’ll take it on the chin and move on but I’ve apologised to the referee.”

For Angels boss Tommy Warrilow, he pointed the finger of blame to the Worthing match official for disallowing Rook’s last-gasp equaliser.

“He’s the only one who thought there was a foul there,” a disappointed Warrilow, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, fumed.

“Watts’ hung it up, Rookie’s attacking the ball, the lad’s (Hill) running backwards, he’s got above him and he’s powered it in and it wasn’t a foul full stop.

“But unfortunately he’s given it (as a foul) and like the retake of the penalty, Hessie’s saying the same thing, these thing evens itself out but again they don’t realise it, it’s a poor decision and the wrong decision.

“He’s gone home, it doesn’t bother him but we’re out of the FA Cup. I wanted to have a run in this and stay in it as long as I could but talking about respecting referee’s and things like that.

“But everyone’s said it, you’ve got to earn respect. I thought today if I was Hessie with the penalty I’d be disappointed, but even more with the timing of the cancellation of the equaliser. It was a poor decision, poor decision.”

Warrilow wanted his side to “die for the cause” against their Kent rivals.

“We knew it would be a hard game but gutted (and) disappointed with the lads,” said Warrilow.

“Second half I thought we could have got at them a little bit more.

“First half we caused a few problems with them. Obviously gone 1-0 up with the penalty but their goal, I thought we had five in midfield, how (Wallis) got a free shot off I’m disappointed it’s come through a lot of bodies.

“But overall, I’m disappointed that we’ve gone out, but I just thought we could have got a couple more goals to make it a bit more easier with some of the throws that have gone in and some of the set pieces.

“If we’ve got a few more bodies in there and died for the cause I think we could have got on the end of something to give us a bit of breathing space but it wasn’t to be.”

Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Lewis Hamilton, Simon Glover, Tommy Tyne, Leon Legge, Tim Olorunda (Luke Piscina 81), John Westcott (Phil Starkey 81), Anthony Storey, Michael Phillips (Kirk Watts 45), Carl Rook, Fraser Logan.
Subs: James Donovan, Jamie Cade, Martin Grant.

Goal: Carl Rook 34 (pen)

Booked: Leon Legge 41

Dover Athletic: John Whitehouse, Matt Fish, Dean Hill, Ollie Schulz (John Keister 45), Craig Cloke (Jerhal Hughes 35), Alan Pouton (Giullao Grazioli 86), Jon Wallis, Nicky Southall, Shaun Welford, Frannie Collin, Lee Browning.
Subs: Sam Jones, Nathan Bailey, James Rogers, Lawrence Ball.

Goals: Jon Wallis 39, Shaun Welford 66

Booked: Craig Cloke 28, Frannie Collin 59

Attendance: 797
Referee: Mr M McCoy (Worthing, West Sussex)
Assistants: Mr J Slaney (Brighton, East Sussex) & Mr P Wilks (Hove, East Sussex)