We believe we can get into the play-off's, insists two-goal hero Cade

Thursday 15th April 2010

TONBRIDGE ANGELS versatile star Jamie Cade says the gruelling schedule at the business end of this season is tough for all semi-professional footballers, writes Stephen McCartney.

The football authorities have been criticised by managers for not extending the league campaign any further than Saturday, 24th April, and some clubs have been playing four games over a seven day period to catch up their fixtures.

Durham born Cade, 25, who now lives locally at Tunbridge Wells, revealed to www.kentishfootball.co.uk what it’s like to be a semi-professional footballer in this position.

“I’m a plumber and heating engineer, it is tough,” he said. “When I got home from work I had a quick bowl of cereal and I shot straight out again.

“It’s just not me, everyone’s in the same boat aren’t they, all 22 players on that pitch are in the same situation.”

Tonbridge Angels faced an uphill struggle as they found themselves 2-0 down to eight-from-bottom side Harrow Borough at Longmead Stadium tonight.

But Cade finished off an Anthony Storey free-kick, which was flicked on by Scott Kinch, to lift the gloom in the 38th minute.

“We started off really poorly,” admitted the former title winner at Lewes. “We were lucky, I think, to go in 2-1 at half-time.

“We got that ascendancy going in at half-time (with my goal). Tommy really should’ve kicked off at half-time but he didn’t. He stayed quite calm and then second half we’ve come out - I don’t know what it was like to watch - but it just felt we were in their half for most of the second half.”

The Angels dominated the second half and levelled through Kinch’s close-range header, before Cade swept home the winner with nineteen minutes remaining.

They now face the prospect of playing four league games in seven days, all against sides that are also vying for the Ryman Premier League play-off’s in the final week of the season.

Tonbridge Angels will leapfrog over Boreham Wood with a win over the Hertfordshire side at Longmead Stadium on Saturday, before they travel to AFC Hornchurch (Tuesday), Wealdstone (Thursday) before ending the season at Aveley, in what could be a winner-takes-all showdown in Essex.

“We’ve got to win every single game that we can now and mathematically we can get ourselves into the play-off’s,” said Cade.

“That’s why it’s crucial we keep winning because (teams around us) are going to lose points so we’ve got to keep on winning and if we win all four games we’re guaranteed to be in the play-off’s - so that is our aim.”

The Angels players dunked themselves in a portable ice bath outside the dressing rooms at the final whistle tonight to prepare for their make-or-break fixtures.

“Those ice baths do work, unbelievably well,” Cade revealed. “It’s not nice, it’s cold when you get in there. We had a little cool down as well after the game.

“We’ve got four (league) games left, 48 hours between each game, but it’s going to be a tough schedule. We’ve just got to keep going and just keep on this good (12 match unbeaten) run that we’ve been on.”

The Angels were as low as 19th position following their 3-1 defeat away to struggling Bognor Regis Town as recently as Saturday 6th February - but Cade always knew his team-mates would show their true colours.

“Who would’ve thought it, when we were (around) the relegation zone?” he said.

“We just dug deep and believed in ourselves. Tommy and Cliff (Cant) have always believed in us as well.”

Cade has received harsh criticism on the club’s forum over the course of the season - but Warrilow paid tribute to the versatile player, calling him a “professional, who always gives 110%.”

Cade said: “The fans don’t really see what goes on behind the scenes. We’ve got a really strong group, everyone in there loves each other and we just carried on what we were doing.

“One of the guys in there was saying it’s all about confidence and just one result that’s all it takes. You get a steam going behind you and we’ve just carried on to where we are now!”

Warrilow has told the football authorities to respect semi-professional footballers so this kind of situation doesn’t happen again.

“It’s crazy really, but it’s the same for a few teams in our league, you’ve just got to get on with it,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk after tonight’s 3-2 win stretched their unbeaten run to twelve games.

“You could see tonight, Scott Kinch took a whack, he’s got 24-48 hours to get himself right and that’s what will happen between now and the end of the season.

“You’ll get knocks and there’s no recovery time and that’s the only downside. The boys have got to work as well but we’re just delighted to be where we are.”

Warrilow added: “I’ve said all along some of the bigger decisions in football, I think common sense seems to go out of the window.

“I said last week, it’s just not us, there are other teams in our league in this situation so no-one’s going to benefit from it.

“I just think the season should’ve been extended.”

Sixteen-goal midfielder, Lee Minshull is available for selection following a two-match suspension, and comes in for Kinch, who was taken to hospital tonight with a suspected broken ankle.

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

Tonbridge Angels v Boreham Wood

Ryman Premier League

Saturday 17th April 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

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