We hold no grudges, says Warrilow

Friday 01st January 2010

The Tonbridge Angels begin 2010 as they ended 2009 – with a Ryman Premier League game against Hastings United, but this time that Angels must travel following last weekend's tempestuous 2-2 draw at Longmead, writes Mike Green

Speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, manager Tommy Warrilow admitted that this week’s game should have no nearing on last weeks draw.

He said: “Who knows what Saturday is going to bring? We wont be going down there to continue anything – there was a nasty highly volatile atmosphere at the end of the game on Boxing Day – but we’ll be heading down there to try and get our flowing game going and try to play some football.

“I just think that what happened wasn't Hastings fault – it was just that the officials weren’t good enough on the day!”

Hastings of course are managed by former Angels management team of Tony Dolby and Mike Rutherford and include several old Angles in their squad – a point not lost on Warrilow.

He said: “With all the ex players down there and the relevant League positions it is one of the games of the weekend, and the reverse of Boxing Day. They didn’t have a good result against Maidstone on Monday (Lloyd Hume’s side won 2-1 at Pilot Field) so they’ll be looking to get some points on the table.”

Reflecting on his wasted midweek the Angels boss continued, “We had a wasted midweek trip to Margate and so yet again instead of getting regular action we’re having to wait for our games to come round once a week.

“I don’t even think that us no having a game midweek will help. I do believe that playing Saturday and the Monday – especially given the intensity of the game Boxing Day would have been too much for us – Paul Booth tweaked his groin 10/15 minutes into the second half whilst Scott Gooding played his first full 90 minutes in three months.”

Warrilow sent his players home from Hartsdown Park with a message – one that the boss hopes that they fully took on board!

“I said to the boys before they left on Tuesday to be careful on New Years Eve so that we can go again on Saturday. I’ve got a good set of lads as it showed on Boxing Day that they hadn’t over indulged.”

With the Ryman Premier League so tight, Warrilow the admitted that he thought the Angels were in the most unpredictable league in the county.

“Everyone at the top of the league is so tight that if we had of got those two extra points on Boxing Day and managed a win at Margate, we’d have been right back up there again.

“It’s ridiculous – the same thing happened Saturday there have been draws where you wouldn’t have expected them, there were teams beating other teams that they shouldn’t.

“This year every one has been more or less at the same level. OK Dartford have got away and are having a so called blip, but their start means that it doesn’t seem to matter that much!”

To highlight the unpredictability of the league, Warrilow continued, “Just look Kingstonian – get an unlikely win on Boxing Day and then lose to struggling Bognor on Monday – you simply cant predict this League this season. I’ve said now for two season regardless whether a team is top middle or bottom, if I were a betting man I’d avoid this league like the plague!”

The manager then highlighted that the size his squad really did make a difference to his planning.

“Not having the squad that we had last year we really must take it a game at a time – of course I want to go on a four or five game unbeaten run but if you lose its not nice.

“I’m annoyed at dropping points on Saturday and now we go to Hastings having to grab all three. Not playing on Tuesday has helped us in the way that it gives Boothy a chance to get fit and Scott a chance to have an extended rest and looking at the weather Tuesday night I don’t think not playing has done us any harm!”

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

Hastings United v Tonbridge Angels

Ryman Premier League

Saturday 2nd January 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At The Pilot Field, Elphinstone Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 2AX