Warrilow targets home play-off semi-final

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow takes his first side to Princes Park Stadium tomorrow looking for maximum points to cement their place in the Ryman Premier League play-off zone, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Angels make their first visit to Princes Park sitting in third place in the table - thirteen points clear of Tony Burman’s Dartford side, who are in seventh place.

But more importantly, the Angels are eight points clear of Carshalton Athletic, the side that occupy the last play-off berth.

And with only seven league games left, Warrilow, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk today, is confident that his side will have home advantage in the play-off semi-final.

“They’re all big games now,” he said. “It’s nice to go back to Dartford, it will be the first time I’ve took a team there so I’m looking forward to it.”

He added, “There’s a nice gap appearing, like I say, until it’s mathematically impossible we’re always looking over our shoulder and Dartford are still looking at the play-off spots as well.

“It’s going to be tight, but all I’m just concentrating on is us, and just ticking each game off as we go.”

The Angels have left it very late indeed in their last two games. Staines Town, who grabbed a 2-0 lead, were relieved to claim a point as two goals in the last nine minutes, from Leon Legge and Scott Gooding helped the Angels claim a 2-2 draw - they deserved more.

And last weekend, Ashford Town (Middlesex) thought they were going to come away with a win, but the Angels stormed back to win the 3-2 game, courtesy of Carl Rook (87), Steve Ferguson (90+3) and a stunning Fraser Logan volley (90+5).

“In both games, were, to be fair, we should have been in front and we really deserved a win at Staines as well,” reflected Warrilow.

“But the lads have shown tremendous character and we never say die and we go until the final whistle. The fitness, I think, is showing at this time of the season.

“But we deserved a win on Saturday, anyone who was there would hopefully agree and we deserved a draw at Staines. They’re four massive points that we’ve picked up in situations when some teams would get nothing out of them.”

Warrilow admits there is plenty to play for - winning promotion with Dover Athletic via the play-off’s - and players playing for their shirts for this - and next - season.

“Players are playing for their shirt every week, especially now I’ve got an eighteen-men squad,” explained Warrilow.

“But at the moment we’ve had a lot of injuries and a couple of suspensions, the players are realising that when these lads are fit, they’re all playing for their shirts and playing to be at the club next year.

“We’ve been up in the play-off positions for most of the season so you can easily drop out of it. The league is still very tight and over the last few weeks there’s a slight gap (of seven points) appearing between us and the team (Sutton United) in fourth spot.

“But in a space of a week that can disappear. We’re not getting carried away with it - we emphasised to the lads not to throw it away.“

But cementing their third spot will ensure the play-off semi-final, against the team that finish in fourth, will be at a passion-filled Longmead Stadium, something that Warrilow so desperately wants.

He said: I want a Tuesday night at Longmead. I want the fans to come out and get behind us, that’s a good old fashioned, using a big expression, a good old fashioned cup night.

“I’d like to stay at home but to be honest the play-off final you need a bit of lady luck on your side as AFC Wimbledon found out last year. I think they were 1-0 down (at Staines Town) with ten minutes to go and scraped a 2-1.

“We’d like the Tuesday night at home and obviously after that I’m not too concerned, but the first things first, we just have to make sure we’re in the play-off’s first.

“I keep saying to the boys, there’s still enough points for people to drop us and that’s why they will never drop their guard and every point now is important.”

Striker, Jamie Cade, with 12 goals to his name this season, is halfway through his three-match ban and Warrilow is also without towering centre half Leon Legge tomorrow.

He will have to give fitness tests to Tommy Tyne and Fraser Logan, who didn’t train last night, and assess the fitness of John Westcott (pulled calf), Lewis Hamilton (thigh) and recent signing Dwaine Clarke (hamstring).

Former Ramsgate midfielder, Michael Phillips, meanwhile, has left the club by “mutual consent.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game.

Dartford v Tonbridge Angels
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 28th March 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT