Warrilow wants to grab £3,000 from the Police

Monday 07th September 2009

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow will tell his squad the importance of going on a decent FA Cup run this season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Angels failed to pick up any prize money as Dover Athletic (FA Cup) and Ramsgate (FA Trophy) defeated Warrilow’s men at the first hurdle last season and he will be determined to get past Ryman League Division One South side Metropolitan Police at Longmead Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

And with £3,000 up for grabs in prize money from the Football Association, Warrilow, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after his side threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Maidstone United at the weekend, knows Jim Cooper’s men must be beaten to help the cash-strapped west Kent club.

“We drew Dover first round so the draws we’re a little bit naughty to us (last season), but I think a lot of clubs this year are looking for the FA Cup money,” admitted Warrilow.

“Metropolitan Police are no pushovers, they’ve got a lot of players that are Ryman Premier League standard.

“We’re at home, we’ve got two (training) sessions this week to pick the lads up - they’re devastated. They know they’ve let the supporters down second half (at Maidstone United).”

Metropolitan Police could have been playing the Angels in the Ryman Premier League this season, but Simon Osborn’s stunning strike ensured Kent side Cray Wanderers clinched promotion in their place via the play-off’s.

And Warrilow warned: “Every team that are below you, you’re expected to win, but they’re a good team.

“I’ve seen them play, they’ve brought a couple of new faces up front, Frankie Sawyer (ex-Hastings United) - obviously they’ve got Wilko (Craig Wilkins), Nicky Humphrey, so they’ll be decent.

“I’m obviously a bit flat at the moment due to a last minute goal but we’ll pick the boys up this week.”

A run in this season’s FA Cup could prompt the board to hand Warrilow some extra funds to bolster squad numbers.

Warrilow took just a 14-man squad to Homelands to lock horns with Maidstone United last Saturday as Tom Bryant, Liam Baker and Sonny Miles were all serving bans for non first-team football misdemeanours.

The former Horsham boss has only Lee Worgan, Lewis Hamilton, Jon Heath, Jamie Cade, Lee Minshull, Scott Gooding, Steve Ferguson, Anthony Storey, Paul Booth, Carl Rook, Kirk Watts, Jean-Michal Sigere and Gavin Dayes who have experience of this level - or above.

“We’ve got a smaller squad this year, so I’ve not set any expectations for the lads,” explained Warrilow.

“They know what I want week in, week out, I want to win every game. That’s the attitude going into the games.

“If we can stay injury free and suspension free and start converting our chances we should go on a nice little run. We’ve rued missed chances.”

Speaking about his small squad, Warrilow added, “If I had them all through the season week in, week out, I’d say yes, we’ll do play-offs, but that team won’t play week in, week out.

“When injuries happen that’s when you’re going to come unstuck. That’s why we should really convert these draws into wins and that gives us that breathing space when injuries and suspensions kick in.”

Visit Tonbridge Angels’ website: www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk

Tonbridge Angels v Metropolitan Police

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

Saturday 15th September 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JW