Kentish Football

Tonbridge Angels 3-3 Lowestoft Town - If feels like a loss, admits Tommy Warrilow

Saturday 29th January 2011
TONBRIDGE ANGELS  3-3  LOWESTOFT TOWN
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 29th January 2011
Paul Parkinson reports from Longmead Stadium

DESPITE scoring three past the meanest defence in the top ten divisions in the country, Tonbridge Angels manager Tommy Warrilow was disappointed to pick up a point from today's match against Lowestoft; a point that keeps up the Angels' unbeaten league run in January and maintains their position just outside the playoffs. 


Warrilow said: "It feels like a loss, but we didn't lose and I thought there were a number of times where we could have killed the game off. We started well, three very good goals. They've got a lifeline. I mean the guy's shanked it from near the halfway line."

He added: "Second half, we were hoping to hit them on the break, knowing they'd go a little gung-ho, but the final ball didn't have enough on it and we never really tested them. 

“I'm disappointed with two of the goals where they've had a free header in the box and we didn't react to the second ball. We've given away too many sloppy free kicks, and even though we talked about stopping crosses coming in and that didn't happen either.”

For the second week running, Tonbridge dominated their opponents in the first half; a creditable feat considering Lowestoft started the day in fourth and having only conceded 9 goals in 20 league games. 

Michael Frew had an early chance for the visitors, heading straight at Lee Worgan from the angle, but Tonbridge's pressure brought the first of 8 yellow cards in the match for Andrew Fisk, who brought down Chris Piper. Fisk was possibly lucky to escape with a warning a few minutes later after kicking Piper in the head.

The Angels deservedly took the lead during a period of concerted pressure. A flick header by Ade Olorunda found Jay May on the edge of the area. May touched the ball past Sam Gaughran to Frannie Collin, whose left foot effort was turned round the post by Andrew Reynolds. 

From the resulting Lee Browning corner, John Beales beat his marker to power a header in, that Reynolds could only palm into the net, for his first goal since rejoining the club from Hastings United.

Tonbridge extended their lead through Collin's 15th goal of the season. Another Browning corner, this time rolled back towards Collin who dummied the ball, was chipped to the back post by Piper, where Ben Judge headed back across the 6 yard box. Collin, having continued his run forward, had enough time to control the ball before firing in off the far post.

Things got even better for the home side on 34 minutes, when May intercepted a poor cross field ball and powered into the Lowestoft half. He passed out to Olorunda, who took the ball round Curtis Haynes-Brown, before rolling back into May's path and May slotted home his fourth goal of the season.

Lowestoft gained a foothold in the game from an unlikely source. After Piper had been booked for a foul just inside the Angel's half, Lowestoft skipper Greg Crane lashed a 45 yard free kick towards the Tonbridge box, where Worgan was caught unaware, as the ball flew on to dip under the bar.

This brought about a change in the game, with Tonbridge praying for half-time, as first Joe Francis, with a free kick that scraped past the post, then Frew, who could only find the side netting from a Francis cross, came close.

A scrappy opening to the second half saw few goal scoring opportunities for either side and the game didn't really come to life until just past the hour, when Tonbridge's Terry Sedge and Lowestoft's football director, Craig Fleming, were both ordered from their respective dugouts following a disagreement over getting a ball back in play.

The visitor's were throwing everything at Tonbridge in an effort to claw their way back and Frew had two headers that came close. First, he directed his effort straight at Worgan, then couldn't get a full contact on an effort when 6 yards out.

As Tonbridge dropped deeper, the number of balls into the Angels' box were beginning to find their targets and this was the source of Lowestoft's second goal on 81 minutes. A pin-point cross from Francis found Dale Cockrill unmarked to power home.

With just four minutes left, Lowestoft found the equaliser. Adam Smith's free kick into the box found substitute Matthew Halliday, whose header was well parried by Worgan, only for the ball to fall to Frew who stabbed home from 6 yards.

Tonbridge had a late chance to win the match, but Crane threw himself in front of Lewis Taylor's shot, after good work by Collin.

Reflecting on the match, Warrilow admitted, "I've got quite a young side here at the moment and sometimes it shows. We've got off to a quick start and had to decide, do we sit on the lead or try, going defensive, leaving one up front, or do we try to hit them. 

“We got into some very good areas, but for some reason the final ball wasn't good enough. 

“I think the goal gave them a lift. We started sitting deeper and panicked a bit and that's a side of the game we've got to address. We've got to be more organised and start taking responsibility when a goal does go in.

"We are a good side that on our day are capable of beating anyone in this league. They boys have got to believe in that. We've come up against a team that don't let many goals in and we've scored 3; that's what we can do. It's just unfortunate that we've given away too many free kicks in bad areas."

Looking forward, the Tonbridge boss said: "We've had a hard January, we've not lost and now we've got Maidstone (away) on Tuesday. If we can go there and get a win we'll have had a great January. 

“I am disappointed that we haven't got three points today, but we know why it's happened and there are things we can work on. Judgey and Danny Walder have had to come off and I'll find out on Monday how they are, but we've got the bench raring to go and they are all going to play a vital part in the next few months."

Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Danny Walder (Jake Beecroft 89), Jon Heath, Lewis Taylor, Ben Judge (Sonny Miles 71), John Beales, Lee Browning, Chris Piper, Jay May, Frannie Collin, Ade Olorunda.
Subs: Scott Kinch, Fraser Logan, Matt Hollyoak.

Goals:  John Beales 18, Frannie Collin 26, Jay May 34.

Booked: Chris Piper 39, Ben Judge 64, Danny Walder 70, Sonny Miles 90.

Lowestoft Town: Andrew Reynolds, Sam Gaughran (Matthew Halliday 71), Adam Smith, Andrew Fisk, Greg Crane, Curtis Haynes-Brown, Scott Mitchell, Dale Cockrill, Lee McGlone, Michael Frew (Jamie Forshaw 89), Joe Francis.
Subs: Jamie Godbold, Russell Stock, Matt Nolan.

Goals: Greg Crane 40, Dale Cockrill 81, Michael Frew 86.

Booked: Andrew Fisk 10, Lee McGlone 24, Curtis Haynes-Brown 71, Scott Mitchell 90.

Attendance: 621
Referee: Mr Lee Venamore (Maidstone)
Assistants: Mr Keith Stone (Manston) and Mr Martin Graves (Margate)








 

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