Tonbridge Angels 2-3 Dover Athletic - Both sets of fans' got their money's worth - Nicky Forster

TONBRIDGE ANGELS  2-3  DOVER ATHLETIC
Blue Square Bet South
Easter Saturday 7^th April 2012
Stephen McCartney reports from Longmead Stadium

DOVER ATHLETIC manager Nicky Forster says his side put in a terrific performance against their bitter Kent rivals Tonbridge Angels - and today’s win puts them back in the play-off picture with four league games remaining.

The Whites arrived at Longmead Stadium on the back of three straight defeats and without a goal in 332 minutes, having suffered defeats to Staines Town, Hampton & Richmond Borough and Boreham Wood, which saw the Crabble outfit slip down to sixth-place in the Blue Square Bet South table.

Tonbridge Angels, meanwhile, went into the Kent clash sitting in tenth place in the table, but their seven match unbeaten run was ended thanks to Shane Huke’s late winner.

The second largest crowd of the season at Longmead Stadium certainly got value for money as both Kent team’s put in a game of high quality and with fifth-placed Chelmsford holding second-placed Dartford to a goal-less draw at Princes Park today, Dover Athletic moved to within two points of the wobbling Essex outfit to get their play-off aspirations back on track.

Forster, 38, summed up the game perfectly, when he said: “I thought it was a terrific game of football, certainly for the neutral as you say, but I think both sets of supporters will go away today thinking they got their money’s worth.

“It was a good game of football.  Chances, there was a lot of chances.  It could’ve been 5-4, 6-5 even.  There were a number of chances for both sides. 

“It was a little bit too open for us managers, I’m sure, but certainly from our point of view, having said that, on the back of three defeats, I was delighted we won the game today.”

Tonbridge Angels manager, Tommy Warrilow, 47, meanwhile, admitted today that his side’s chances of gate crashing the play-off party is over, especially as his side are now ten points adrift of fifth-place with only twelve points up for grabs.

He said: “I don’t think any team deserved to lose today.  If we had won it, it would’ve been a bit cruel on them because they got in good areas, but obviously with me being on the losing side, I was just disappointed with the goal we’ve conceded to lose the game.

“I’m not going to be too hard on the lads because we played a good, experienced Dover side here, who on their day can beat anyone.”

Tonbridge Angels got off to a flying start, taking a tenth minute lead when Tim Olorunda stabbed the ball over the line from close range, before man-of-the-match Terry Dixon levelled for Dover Athletic just six minutes later.

Dover Athletic striker, Billy Bricknell, converted his seventeenth goal of the season when he scored from the penalty spot after he was brought down, but their lead was short-lived as Tonbridge Angels striker, Frannie Collin, converted his 50^th career goal for the club with a penalty off his own, after he was upended in the Dover box in the 27^th minute.

With Dover Athletic needing the three points to keep the pressure on Chelmsford City, Huke answered his critics by scoring with a thumping header from a corner to snatch the late win.

Dover Athletic created the first chance of the game, inside the opening four minutes, when Dixon’s low left-footed drive was comfortably saved by Lee Worgan.

But Tonbridge Angels drew first blood, taking the lead from the first corner of the game.

Winger, Rory Hill, swung in a corner with his right-foot from the left flank and Sonny Miles’ towering header at the far post bounced down off the crossbar and Olorunda took advantage of a flat-footed keeper and defence to stab the ball over the line with his right boot from two-yards out.

Warrilow said: “Good start.  We stared with three at the back.  Obviously they started getting in down the channels.  We reverted back to a flat back four.  We got in with a Frannie penalty and again I thought it was pretty even all-round.”

Forster added: “We’re always disappointed with the goals.  Very often you can trace them back to somewhere.  The two goals we gave away were disappointing and I think we responded very well.  I thought the lads were superb today, thoroughly deserving (of the win).”

The delighted Tonbridge Angels fans chanted “You’re not going up!” to the travelling contingent, who demanded that their heroes should “play your hearts out for the fans!”

The Dover Athletic players certainly responded to that criticism, as they fought back.

Barry Cogan played the ball over the top of the Tonbridge defence to release orange-booted winger Donovan Simmonds, who kept the ball in on the left by-line, cut the ball back on to his right foot before whipping in an excellent cross into the penalty box.

The ball was met by Dixon’s powerful header, which brought an excellent save out of highly-rated stopper Worgan, but Dixon wasn’t going to miss his second bite of the cherry, pouncing on the loose ball and ramming the ball into the bottom right-hand corner from three-yards with his right-foot.

Forster praised the former Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United striker.  The highly-rated the 22-year-old is on a contract with Dover Athletic until May 2013.

“I thought Tel was superb, we know Tel’s quality,” said Forster.  “The problem with Tel is he’s had a history of knee problems and he’s knee flared up a little it so second half it’s fair to say he wasn’t as fluid, as mobile as he’d like to be and he still controlled the game at times.

“If you can get the ball to Terry Dixon his quality is too good for this league.”

Dixon’s last appearance at Longmead Stadium came in 2011, when he scored for Tooting & Mitcham United with a scissor-kick volley from outside the area with his back to goal, in a Ryman Premier League fixture, which ended 3-3.

Warrilow recalled: “We had Terry down here last year.  He turned up with Tooting and got an absolutely worldy down here.

“It’s just a shame the boy’s got a bit of a bad knee problem because he shouldn’t be at this level, with his movement and all-round awareness.

“I said to my boys (in the dressing room), there’s a lot of experience in (the Dover team) and the only way you’re going to get experience is by playing.”

Dixon, who oozed class throughout, had a second chance to double his tally hen his left-footed angled drive took a deflection off Miles and forced Worgan into making a low save to his right.

Collin stroked a 30-yard free-kick towards goal with his lethal right-foot, the ball taking a slight deflection off the wall and only just missing the foot of the near post.

But a mistake by Lee Browning, treading on the ball inside the Dover half, resulting in an electrifying break away by Simmonds, who played an excellent through ball across to Bricknell, who saw Worgan come rushing off his line to the corner of the box and as Worgan attempted to dive at the striker’s feet, Bricknell was upended.

Worgan was shown a yellow card by referee Mr Alan Treleaven as Bricknell was going away  from goal, but the striker got back on his feet and despite the keeper trying to put him off before the kick, Bricknell looped a right-footed penalty into the right corner, above the diving Worgan.

However, Dover Athletic’s joy was short lived – 128 seconds to be precise – as Tonbridge Angels equalised from the spot.

Big target-man Mikel Suarez flicked the ball on to Collin, who danced his way past teenager Lloyd Harrington, but the left-back who was making his League debut, brought down the striker and the referee pointed to the spot for a second time.

Collin stepped up and smashed the resulting right-footed penalty past the diving Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz
(to the keepers right) to score his 29^th goal of an excellent season.

Warrilow paid tribute to Collin, who was released  by then Dover Athletic boss Andy Hessenthaler in May 2010.

He said: “I’m pleased for Fran, just pleased for his overall game today.  I’ve been talking to him, having a little moan over Havant & Waterlooville.  I felt today he worked hard, his runs were dangerous when he got the ball but his quick feet and awareness was a real threat today.

“I think he’s had a fantastic season.  I’m on his case now about the things he’s not doing right.  His pros far weigh out his cons and today he’s proved what a handful he can be.”

Both managers were asked their thoughts on the two penalties.

Warrilow predictably said: “I mean theirs weren’t and ours was!

“Worgs said he didn’t touch him, but once you go like that it’s going to be a penalty.  I couldn’t see if he touched him or not but I’d expect my forward to do exactly what they’ve done.

“And ours was – the lad didn’t see Frannie coming and Frannie’s touched the ball behind him and he’s caught Fran, so they’re both penalties really!”

Forster added: “I thought they were both penalties, there was no doubt about it!

“Bricks (Bricknell) was brought down for the penalty and I thought Lloydy (Harrington) just showed that little bit of inexperience from him where he decided to make the tackle and really by the time he got to the ball he needed to change his mind really and pull out and stay on his feet, but he'll learn.”

Forster heaped plenty of praise on the teenager, who has signed a contract for next season.

“He was terrific today, on his debut.  I thought he was absolutely terrific.  I’m glad we eventually won the game today for him,” said Forster, who started his career at Horley Town, before being snapped up by Gillingham in 1992.

“He’s been superb, young Lloyd and for a young kid he’s got maturity beyond his years.  In lots of ways he’ll stand up and be counted.  He’ll shout and scream at players if he doesn’t think they’re doing it, the job that they need to be doing.  He was terrific!”

Former Dover Athletic midfielder Browning spread a fine ball to release Hill down the right flank and after cutting inside Simmonds and Cogan, his right-footed drive from 30-yards, sailed over Jaimez-Ruiz’s crossbar.

Worgan pulled off another excellent save just before the break – but an offside flag had already been raised.

Cogan and Jemal Johnson combined down the right and the ball came over to Bricknell who seemed destined to score but his right-footed shot brought the very best out of Worgan, the keeper getting swiftly  down low to his left to make an excellent block.

A pulsating first half ended with the statistic that the first four goals were scoring inside the opening 27 minutes.

Dover keeper Jaimez-Ruiz, who likes to stay on his line, made a swift diving save to his left to thwart Chris Piper, who unleashed a low left-footed drive, after a fine move involving Browning and after Piper played a one-two with Suarez.

Dover Athletic should have scored in the 51^st minute when right-back Phil Starkey found himself close to the by-line and he cut the ball back to Bricknell, who turned and his swept right-footed shot from ten-yards was blocked by Tim Olorunda, who kept his composure to clear the ball away from inside his six-yard box.

But both goalkeeper’s excelled around the hour-mark.

Piper’s hooked pass released winger Nathan Koranteng down the right flank and his cross gave Collin the chance to score with a right-footed drive which was destined for the bottom corner, but the Dover keeper blocked with his left leg.

And at the other end, Cogan laid the ball off to an unmarked Dixon, the ball forcing him wide, but his right-footed drive was blocked by Worgan and Cogan’s follow-up was blocked by central defender Ben Judge.

Collin had a couple of shots reign in towards the Dover goal, one wide and one comfortably saved, before Suarez used his height advantage to loop his header over the top of the far post after Jamiez-Ruiz failed to come off his line to claim Hill’s cross from the left.

Collin, who was Tonbridge Angels’ best player, played a delightful diagonal pass from left to right to find Hill, who cut inside before cracking a right-footed drive from 30-yards, which left the keeper rooted to the spot, but the ball agonisingly bounced onto the top of the crossbar with thirteen minutes of a pulsating game remaining.

Dover Athletic issued their rivals a warning when Dixon slipped the ball through to Bricknell, who turned and hit a low shot, which  deflected just past the foot of the near post.

Cogan swung in the resulting corner from the right and Michael Corcoran towered over Jon Heath and planted his header over from close range.

But Dover Athletic claimed a morale boosting, crucial victory, thanks to a corner clearly worked on the training ground.

There were five players waiting in a line on the penalty spot and Cogan floated over an excellent corner from the right and Huke was left unmarked to power a bullet header into the right corner from six-yards and the skipper stuck out his clenched right fist in celebration towards the celebrating fans behind the goal.

Forster added: “We scored three good goals.  We played well for the second one, the penalty, the third goal, the winner, was a terrific delivery and a terrific header.

“I thought we played really well today, it’s such a shame we didn’t score a couple more because some of our play warranted it.”

Warrilow admitted he wasn’t best pleased with conceding from a set-piece.

“I said afterwards to OB (assistant manager Alex O’Brien), we’re hurt by the goal, the winning goal, that was all.  They had chances second half.  We had chances in the second half.  At the end of the day it’s a cruel header that’s cost us. It’s a great header by them.  Being a centre half myself it was a great header, but from my point of view I’m disappointed with the marking.

“Sonny (Miles) said he got a block but Sonny’s a young lad and he’ll learn from that.  I just said to the boys perhaps when we do set-pieces in training now I’ll tell them to do the block perhaps they might believe in it more now they’ve witnessed it happen against you.”

Warrilow had to recall two players due to an injury crisis, with full-back Sam Bewick and striker Carl Rook returning from Maidstone United and AFC Hornchurch to make late cameo substitute roles, although both will return to those clubs on Easter Monday.

Warrilow said: “We were disappointed last week to get a draw against Chelmsford and we’ve come off today and lost to a side that I’m watching two of their subs who didn’t get on who could get into any side and no George Purcell (who was dropped) here today.

“I’ve had Sam Bewick come on, Ben Judge has been up being sick all night and he battled through 77 minutes for me and Mikel Suarez at the end began to tire.

“We’re putting square pegs in round holes at the end.  If you look at my back four at the end, it was Sonny Miles, Tim Olorunda, Jon Heath and Sam Bewick and no disrespect to those boys when you’re playing against Dover you’ve got your work cut out, when you look at a back four that’s patched up.”

He added: “I can’t fault the effort.  We were literary down to bare bones. I can’t ask for anymore.”

Warrilow who couldn’t play former Dover Athletic central defender Ollie Schulz as part of a gentleman’s agreement between the two Kent club’s added: “I had to bring Carl Rook in and bring Sam Bewick back and ask (goalkeeper) Jack Smelt and (youth team defender/skipper) George Crimmen to sit on the bench, because we were scrapping for a side today.”

Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Sonny Miles, Jon Heath (Joe Benjamin 90), Lee Browning, Ben Judge (Sam Bewick 77), Tim Olorunda, Rory Hill, Chris Piper, Mikel Suarez (Carl Rook 84), Frannie Collin, Nathan Koranteng.
Subs: George Crimmen, Jack Smelt

Goals: Tim Olorunda 10, Frannie Collin 27 (pen)

Booked: Lee Worgan 24

Dover Athletic: Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz, Phil Starkey, Lloyd Harrington, Michael Corcoran, Shane Huke, Ian Sempemba, Jemal Johnson, Barry Cogan, Billy Bricknell, Terry Dixon (Danny Edmans 90), Donovan Simmonds.
Subs: Ed Harris, Glen Southam, James Walker, Tom Warren

Goals: Terry Dixon 16, Billy Bricknell 25 (pen), Shane Huke 87

Booked: Michael Corcoran 73

Attendance: 940
Referee: Mr Dean Treleaven (Chichester, West Sussex)
Assistants: Mr Anton Beavis (Romsey, Hampshire) & Mr Martin Bloor (New Milton, Hampshire)