Tonbrige Angels 2-0 Chatham Town - We're not playing well enough, admits Warrilow

He said: "I'm pleased we won after Saturday, but again we can play better - again tonight we were on a hiding to nothing with the ex Tonbridge players coming back from a league below, but I'm pleased we won after having to dig in." 

But he then conceded, " But’s lets give them a bit of credit - Alex (O'Brien) and Lew (Watts) have got a decent side there, but the important thing for us tonight was getting the win after a couple of bad losses - happier than Saturday but still loads of room for improvement!
 
"Saturday simply wasn't good enough and that influenced my selection tonight - we rested Kirk Watts because he's played in most games this season, but the rest of them played because as I said Saturday wasn't good enough. 

“I wanted to try Fergie (Steve Ferguson) up front with Rooky (Carl Rook) - and in honesty we're not playing well enough at the moment to give people nights off - we need to try and get some consistency in our game and tonight we huffed and puffed again but it will come - we've not had the best couple of weeks, and I just felt that there was that air again tonight. 

“We got a 2-0 win and could have had a few more but the most important thing was to get the win and get the confidence back up in the camp. 

“We'll train now on Thursday ahead of another hard game here against Wealdstone.  I'm hopeful that Scott Gooding will be involved on Saturday.”
 
Chats boss O'Brien told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he was happier with his sides performance if not their seeming temporary inability to hit the back of the net!  

He said: "I think we worked hard tonight and gave them a scare until they scored - we've a couple of decent opportunities again, but it just wasn't to be. 

“Its been the story of our play in the last month if you like - we're struggling to find goals from any angle or position and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't  a bit of a worry considering that we're losing games 1-0. 

“But I'm not too down tonight as there was no pressure on us coming here tonight - Tonbridge are a very, very good side, a good outfit and they gave us decent respect with their team and the way they battled but I'm just a little bit disappointed that we didn't find the net.”

The game got off to a fiery start as Ray Powell marked his return to Longmead with a fifth minute booking for a late "lunge" on Angels keeper Lee Worgan as Tonbridge stopper cleared out of his area. 

Fortunately for referee Mr Lee Vennamore the game cooled just like the weather, and it wasn't until 14 minutes that either keeper was really tested. 

Ferguson's vicious in-swinging corner was brilliantly clawed out from under the Chatham bar by keeper Richard Stroud. 

The visitors then tested the Angels goal with Steffan Gaisie twice going close.  The striker fired wide after being put through by Matt Solly, and then after Worgan denied Justin Ascheri with his right boot, Gaisie following up fired inches wide.
 
That miss on 33 minutes seemed to kick start the home side and Chats skipper Richard Avery was at his alert best to clear after Rook’s knock down had been returned into the six yard box by Liam Harwood. 

Minutes later though, the Angels took the lead when Chatham failed to clear down the right, the ball was played through to Rook and the striker easily held off the challenge from Cedric Ngakam to beat Stroud from the edge of the box. 

The Chatham keeper was though the hero on the stroke of half time by brilliantly tipping over Lee Minshull's drive from the edge of the box to keep the score line at one nil!
 
The Chats were again indebted to their keeper on the hour for another fins save - this time to deny Jamie Cade after Rook's fine touch - Avery was again on hand to clear. 

A minute later and only the width of their crossbar kept the home side in front as Gaisie's exquisite chip beat Worgan only to bounce off the top of the cross bar and away to safety. 

Minshull was then again denied by Stroud as he connected with Harwood's knock down, before the game was won by defender bryant who ghosted in unmarked at the back post to bundle the ball home from a right wing corner.
 
In the dying minutes John Wilfort sent a free header wide from Ashley Probets free kick as the visitors tried to get a consolation whilst at the other end Stroud again made a fine save to deny substitute Kirk Watts after Ferguson had put Watts clean through with only the keeper to beat. 

To his eternal credit Stroud stood his ground and pulled off a remarkable block!
 
After the game O'Brien admitted that the Angels deserve to be where they are - towards the top of the Ryman Premier. 

He said, "Rightly so Tonbridge are in the Play off chasers in the Premier Division, but I think we saw the difference tonight between Play Off wanabees in the Premier and wanabees in Division One South." 

And to Angels boss Warrilow, O'Brien had this to say, "I think that a lot of people had them to do it last year but football is a horrible thing at times and I'm sure that they'll be there or there about's again this year, and with Tommy in charge, I'm sure they'll be in the mix!"  
 
Tonbridge Angels:  Lee Worgan, Jon Heath, Tom Bryant, Lee Minshull (Sonny Miles 89), Liam Harwood, Marc Cumberbatch (Paul Butler 36), Liam Baker (Kirk Watts 74), Anthony Storey, Jamie Cade, Carl Rook, Steve Ferguson.
Sub: Luke Blewden.

Goals:  Carl Rook 36, Tom Bryant 76 

Booked: Lee Minshull 69
 
Chatham Town: Richard Stroud, David Hall, Ashley probets, Matt Solly, Richard Avery, Cedric Ngakam, Jim Lyons, John Wilfort, Ray Powell (Justin Ascheri 17), Steffan Gaisie (Brendon Cass 75), Mark Green (Matt Rowe 74).
Subs not used - James Smith, Dean Ruddy
 
Booked: Ray Powell 5, John Wilfort 45
 
Attendance: 190
Referee - Mr L Vennamore (Maidstone)
Assistants - Mr L Crowhurst (Uckfield) and Mr N Baker (Heathfield)