Tonbridge Angels 6-1 Merstham - We've been threatening a win like that for weeks - Warrilow

Saturday 31st October 2009

TONBRIDGE ANGELS 6-1 MERSTHAM
FA Carlsberg Trophy Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 31st October 2009
Mike Green reports from Longmead Stadium

Tonbridge Angels are into Monday’s hat for the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy after a truly magnificent game of football in which their opposition from Ryman One South, Merstham, more than played their part in a highly enjoyable game of football on a sunny afternoon at Longmead.

After a first half that had practically everything you could wish for – four goals; two penalties of which one was missed; six yellow cards which saw two sent off; and end to end football that had you thinking you were watching two heavyweights of tennis on Wimbledon’s Centre Court – the second half too exploded into life before the two teams proverbially “ran out of puff”, but not before the 386 crowd were sent home having watched a footballing spectacle that could have gone either way for fully 50 minutes.

A delighted Tommy Warrilow, speaking to www.kentishfotball.co.uk after the game said, “We’ve been threatening to do that to someone for a long while. Yes we were stretched at the back again, but going forward I thought that Boothy (Paul Booth), Rooky (Carl Rook) and Fergie (Steve Ferguson) were all outstanding today.

"But that’s what I know they’re capable of every week – they’ve shown the fans once, now “all” I ask is that they do it again and again. In my mind we have undoubtedly THE best forward line in our league.”

Warrilow was equally frank in his programme notes when he said after last weekend 0-2 defeat at Boreham Wood “Yet again I find myself listening to the opposition’s manager telling me we are the best side they have played this season. That’s nice to hear but a fat lot of good when you leave with no points!”

The Tonbridge boss held individual meetings with his strikers during the week looking to get more out of them, and did they respond!

Inside the opening 120 seconds the Angels were ahead. Kirk Watts flighted a long free kick into the box from wide on the right; Lee Minshull nodded back across goal for Booth to sweep home.

Minshull (the Angels stand in skipper as Anthony Storey was suspended) then went close himself on 6 minutes – driving narrowly wide from 20 yards – before the visitors were level on seven.

The impressive Jermaine McClashen raced onto a long clearance, and despite the efforts of Marc Cumberbatch, the Merstham winger just about kept his feet before rolling the ball past Lee Worgan and into the Angels net.

On 10 minutes Worgan was at his brilliant best to turn aside Billy Marshall’s header, before the Angels regained the lead two minutes later.

Ferguson outpaced defender Adam Moriarty for the first time and sent a fine low centre aimed at Rook. The Angels top scorer though was impeded by Craig Vernon as he went for the ball resulting in a yellow card for the defender and a penalty for Tonbridge, which rook himself duly despatched for his 12^th goal of the season.

Ferguson then went close to increasing the lead when he hit a low skidding shot which keeper Ian Chatfield just about got enough on to divert it round the right post.

The lead was increased on 20 minutes when Cumberbatch netted his first Tonbridge goal.

Watts’ corner was nodded on by Rook and the central defender was on hand at the far post to make it 3-1.

Within a minute, this ridiculously paced and enthralling game took another twist as the visitors were awarded a penalty of their own.

McClashen outpaced Lewis Hamilton down the left, and the Angels defender mistimed his tackle sending the Merstham man sprawling and for the second time referee Lennard pointed to the spot, and produced a yellow card for Hamilton.

Unlike Rook, however, John Hamsher sent his spot kick crashing off of Worgan’s left post and the ball rebounded to Tonbridge safety.

The clock had moved barely two more minutes (incredibly the game was still in the opening quarter) when both sides were reduced to 10 men.

A ball into the Merstham box resulted in Hamilton and Vernon clashing, with the visitors defender finishing in a heap. The referee however saw enough to caution both players for a second time, which resulted in both players heading for the dressing rooms.

The game continued at its amazing pace for the remainder of the half with both sides rueing missed chanced.

David Smith blazed high over and Billy Marshall was denied by Worgan’s knees as Merstham tried to get back into the game, whilst Rook hit the back of the stand from 12 yards after a fine cross from Jon Heath, whilst Minshull hit a brilliant dipping volley from 25 yards that just didn’t dip enough.

At the other end Worgan produced another fine block, this time to deny Smith as the first half ended, and everyone was able to draw breath!

A fabulous 45 minutes of football which was a huge credit to both teams…

After the break, the Angels came out to finish the job, and they effectively did so within ten minutes.

Cumberbatch saw a header cleared away by Hamsher, before Minshull struck the goal his performance deserved.

Sub Paul Butler (on for the luckless Tom Bryant at half time) hit a long free kick, which Booth did brilliantly to hold up before laying the ball into his skipper’s path, and from 25 yards Minshull stroked the ball effortlessly into the bottom corner of the net.

That came on 50 minutes and four minutes later the hard working Booth was rewarded with a second goal himself.

Ferguson mesmerised the Merstham defence yet again, before laying the ball inside for Booth, who’s first shot drew a terrific block from keeper Chatfield. But when the keeper needed a bit of luck with the rebound, he didn’t get it, and the ball went straight back to the Angels number nine who gleefully rammed the ball into the roof of the net for his second (and 7^th of the season) and Tonbridge’s fifth to effectively seal the game.

Full credit must go to Merstham though who kept going at the Angels all the way to the final whistle, and Worgan again did well to keep out a low shot from substitute Dan Bennett, whilst at the other end Rook headed a Butler cross over the bar, and Booth was only denied his hat trick by the left post.

Rook won possession brilliantly midway in the visitors half, and load the ball wide to Ferguson. His pin point pass found Booth who was left on his knees as his shot beat Chatfield only to cannon off of the post straight back onto Booth’s knees before flying wide of the same left post!

The rout was completed three minutes from time when Angels sub Jean Michel Sigere latched onto a long clearance to race clear. As Chatfield came out, he coolly lobbed the ball over the keeper, and before Hamsher could get back to challenge, Sigere rammed the ball into the unguarded net.

“We knew we had to give them full respect,” said Warrilow after the game, “but we also knew that someone was going to be on the end of a result like this – its just a shame that there’s no league points on offer today… but that would be greedy – I’m a very happy man tonight” admitted the Angels boss.

“My hope now is that we get a decent draw in the next round, and the club can earn some money out of it. At the moment I’m on a one (player) in means one out policy and it would be nice to have not to have to do that.”

Indeed, for the Angels next game against Aveley next weekend in the League, the Angels threadbare squad will lose the inspirational Minshull through suspension. “Thing is,” Warrilow told us, “at least I get Stoz (Storey) back. Lose one skipper and get one back – sums up our season so far!

"We’ve a very tight squad and we’re not going to win every game – but tonight I am happy, but I want us to be ruthless… so I said to them that we should have had ten!”

The Angels boss concluded, “We must take this performance into next week – today gives us the springboard that I hope that we’ve been looking for.”

Springboard or nor, the home fans and the neutrals in the crowd will have gone home very happy, not just with the result but the way the game was played (and officiated) – Merstham finished well beaten, but they more than played their part in a game that will long live in the memory.

Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Lewis Hamilton, Jon Heath, Lee Minshull, Tom Bryant (Paul Butler 46), Marc Cumberbatch (Richard Styles 85), Steve Ferguson, Jamie Cade, Paul Booth, Carl Rook (Jean Michel Sigere 80), Kirk Watts.
Sub: Ebenezer Masade

Goals: Paul Booth 2, 54; Carl Rook (Pen) 14, Marc Cumberbatch 20, Lee Minshull 50, Jean Michel Sigere 87.

Booked: Lewis Hamilton 20, Marc Cumberbatch 80

Sent off: Lewis Hamilton 23

Merstham: Ian Chatfield, James Hancock, Adam Moriarty, Tristan Frontin, Craig Vernon, John Hamsher, David Smith (Carl Gibbs 54), Wes Goggin, Mu Mann (Chris Brayne 71), Billy Marshall (Dan Bennett 54), Jermaine McClashen.
Subs: Tom Hughes, Matt Males.

Goal: Jermaine McClashen 7

Booked: Craig Vernon 13, Adam Moriarty 19

Sent Off: Craig Vernon 23

Attendance: 386

Referee: Mr H Lennard (Peacehaven)
Assistants: Mr L Rendell (Worthing) and Mr M Tasker (Lewes)