Warrilow down to bare bones defensively

Wednesday 23rd September 2009

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow says he will have to do a head count to see who is available for Saturday’s FA Cup second qualifying round tie at home to Horsham YMCA, writes Stephen McCartney.

The former Horsham number two lost defenders Gavin Dayes (leg), Lewis Hamilton (calf/hamstring) and Tom Bryant (suspected ligaments) during the warm-up before Tuesday’s ugly 2-0 home win over basement side Bognor Regis Town.

And with Scott Gooding’s scan results expected shortly - and Nick Davis, who hasn’t kicked a ball for the club since his summer move from Ramsgate, Warrilow is short of numbers at the back.

He started with a 3-5-2 formation against the Rocks on Tuesday night, with versatile central midfielder Lee Minshull playing in the middle with Jon Heath and Paul Butler either side of him.

The result puts the club in fourth place in the Ryman Premier League table, and Warrilow hopes his side can get through Saturday’s FA Cup tie against lower league opposition (Horsham YMCA play in Ryman One South) unscathed.

“I’m glad we’re at home,” Warrilow told www.kentishfootball.co.uk following his side’s midweek win, courtesy of goals in each half from Carl Rook and skipper Anthony Storey.

“I know it’s frustrating as we’ve not been firing on all cylinders but we’re at home again, against a so called lesser side.

“I’m just concerned about getting eleven players fit. It really is that bad at the moment. We’ve just got to see what we’ve got, patch them up and put them out there.

“Obviously I’m struggling defensively. I’m not too sad going forward, it’s just defensively I’m down to the bare bones.”

Warrilow explained why he has reverted to a 3-5-2 formation, although his side shaped up 4-4-2 towards the end of Tuesday’s game.

“Everyone’s on about this three (at the back),” said Warrilow. “The bottom line is since we’ve started the season the whole point of it was to create chances and if we’re not finishing the chances, then why we’ve got to change the three?

“Again tonight, we started with it, we had some major issues, we had a couple off chances during the first half, which we didn’t bury.

“I’m fed up of teams coming here and putting one up front, so why have a back four?

“If we’re struggling with boys’ injuries and lads who aren’t used to it, then we’ll change with a 4, but with a 3 it’s up to the other boys in the side, the forwards and the attacking midfielders to step up to the mark and say the reason why we’re not winning these draws is because we’ve been let down in the final third.

“It’s nothing to do with the defensive third. I’ve been 4-4-2 all my life but at the moment since the season started it’ll be nice to have four defenders but it’s been picking itself but I’ve been happy with it.

“I was gutted Saturday with a last minute (Sutton United) goal and you’ve lost the game and all off a sudden that’s what everyone remembers and all off a sudden they (supporters) all start picking holes with the three.”

Saturday’s game sees the return of former Tonbridge winger John Westcott, who now wears Horsham YMCA colours, but even so, man-to-man the Angels have the better players and should pick up the much-needed £4,500 in prize money to book themselves in the next round - two more wins from the first round proper.

“At least we’ve got through the first one, that’s a plus,” said Warrilow, whose side beat Metropolitan Police 1-0 in the last round but were defeated by both Dover Athletic and Ramsgate in the first round of the FA Cup and FA Trophy last season.

“Last year we went out at the first hurdle but I want it for us, I want it for the fans, I want a big day out like the Oxford days (in the FA Trophy when I first took over).

“I’m as frustrated as the fans as we’ve got a whole load to offer than what you saw tonight. I think everyone knows that and that’s why everyone gets frustrated.

“But I think sometimes you’ve got to have a little look and see there’s not a lot let to put out there to change things at the moment.

“Needs must and the boys have given me everything in areas they’re not comfortable in and really don’t know how to play in and I can’t really ask for much more than that.”

Visit Tonbridge Angels’ websites: www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk & www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/forum

Tonbridge Angels v Horsham YMCA

FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Second Qualifying Round

Saturday 26th September 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent DA10 3JW