Tonbridge Angels 2-1 Hendon - We're improving with every game, says Warrilow

"Rooky's got a sore groin and hasn't been his best in recent weeks as he only working at 70% fit.  So I gave him a rest today, but thought that Siggy (Jean Michal Sigere) worked his socks off and could have got a goal himself! 

“I want a fully fit Carl Rook, and if that means leaving him out of games then so be it.  I've got the strikers at least when I can afford to wait!" 

And in Booth, Warrilow certainly does have the perfect foil for his striking options,

"I had a chat with Boothy a few weeks ago," said the Angels boss.  "I asked him to show us every week what he's about and so far so good.  The goal he got at Kingstonian on Saturday was magnificent and the one he got tonight was almost as good."
 
Despite their recent good run, the Angels were surprisingly sluggish out of the  blocks and were thankful on nine minutes to keeper Lee Worgan for not going behind. 

A long cross field ball released Lubomir Guenthchev, and as he drew the keeper, he coolly rolled the ball square to James Bent who had an empty net to shoot at.  Yet somehow Worgan recovered magnificently to save Bent's shot left handed when really the Angels keeper should have had no chance at all!
 
Bent then lead a break with Peter Dean, and after exchanging passes Dean's shot was brilliantly blocked by a diving Lewis Hamilton. 

That came on 21 minutes and it finally seemed to kick start the home side into action as just five minutes later Booth saw a very ambitious lob sail over Hendon keeper James Reading but unfortunately for the home side bounce the wrong side of the post. 

Moments later, Reading produced a fine save to deny Liam Harwood a debut home goal to go along with the goal scored at kingstonian en debut at the weekend. 

Kirk Watts did well down the left; his cross was laid back by Marc Cumberbatch for Harwood who's first time drive was brilliantly turned aside by Reading.

The Angels went even closer six minutes from half time when following a Watts corner, Booth nodded down only to see Cumberbatch's shot beat the keeper but not Craig vargas who cleared off the line. 

The goal that the Angels did deserve finally arrived on the stroke of half time and was as simple as it was brilliant! 

Minshull won the ball on the edge of the centre circle and advanced to the edge of the box; played a delightful one two with Booth before drilling the ball under Readings for his seventh goal of the season.
 
If Hendon felt themselves hard done by to go in behind, they were level within a minute of the second half courtesy of a goal that made Worgan look so very foolish! 

Yet there was nothing that the poor Angels keeper could have done about it as a shot from Billy Dunn for the edge of the box looked to be rolling into the keepers arms before hitting a divot, and with Worgan on his knees the ball looped into the top corner of the net. 

"Why don't we get luck like that," manager Warrilow bemoaned after the game. 

"I cant blame Lee for the goal - from the side the pitch looks perfect - its only when you get out there that you realise how bad it actually is; it is truly awful and I think it’s one of the worst, if not the worst pitch in this League.  I feel for Lee - I really do!!!"

It could have rocked the Angels but to their credit they roared back and Jamie Cade (who must have been close behind Minshull in the Man of the Match voting) fired in a cross shot that flew inches past the far post, before Hamilton again made a great block to deny Dunn.
 
On the hour, the visitors should really have been in front, as a corner into the Angels box caused mayhem. 

And almost in slow motion the ball dropped to Patrick O'Donnell who was denied by a clearance by Cade just as the defender looked set to score. 

It was to prove a costly miss as within a minute, Tonbridge scored what was to prove to be the winner. 

Cade was the architect as he thread a brilliant through ball to Booth who took it in his strike and slotted it wide of the advancing Reading for his ninth goal of the season.
 
Try as they might Hendon didn't really test Worgan again within the remaining 29 minutes, and the Angels held on reasonably comfortably. 

A happy Warrilow later admitted: "It does and it doesn't matter where we are in the League after tonight.  I'm delighted with the run that we're on, but not going to get carried away - we knew it would come eventually; it’s just come a bit earlier than it did last season. 

“It's still not brilliant, but we're becoming more fluent with each game and we're improving with every game. 

“The League is so tight that with the possible exception of Dartford the rest of the League is on a level playing field.  Don't get me wrong, fair play to Tony (Burman) for what he and his squad have done.  But lets face it with the backing of a great ground and the foundations that they've down over the past few years, there aren't many clubs who can come close to them - no one can compete particularly when you look at their level of support. 

“As I said hats off to Tony - he's built on what he had last year and the result is being top of the league." 

And with one eye on Sunday's FA Carlsberg Trophy derby clash at Park View Road against Welling United, the Angels boss concluded, "We'll got here to try and cause an upset.  But I still think that we should have been going there for a League game this year rather than relying on a Trophy visit.  We have a point to prove and hopefully Sunday we'll give them something to think about."

Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Lewis Hamilton, Liam Harwood, Jamie Cade, Lee Minshull, Marc Cumberbatch, Steve Ferguson, Anthony Storey, Paul Booth, Michal-Jean Sigere (Carl Rook 72), Kirk Watts.
Subs: Jon Heath, Paul Butler, Liam Baker.

Goals: Lee Minshull 43, Paul Booth 61

Hendon: James Reading, Dave Diedhiou, Craig Vargas, Patrick O’Donnell (Wayne O’Sullivan 88), James Parker, Kevin MacLearen (Casey MacLaren 76), James Bent, Scott Cousins, Peter Dean, Billy Dunn, Lubomir Guentchev.
Subs: Wes Daly, James Burgess, Danny Dyer.

Goal: Billy Dunn 46

Booked: James Bent 19, James Parker 76

Attendance: 371
Referee:  Mr Paul Harris (Maidstone)
Assistants: Mr Paul Beadle (Sevenoaks) & Mr Rob Baker (Maidstone)