We'll go there with the right attitude and work our socks off, says Tommy Warrilow

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow warns he is expecting a battle against Merthyr Town on Saturday.



The Angels, who sit in thirteenth-place in the Blue Square Bet (Conference) South table with 20 points from 16 games, travel to Wales to contest a FA Carlsberg Trophy First Round tie.

Tonbridge Angels, who defeated Evo-Stik Southern Premier League side Hitchin Town 2-1 at Longmead Stadium two weeks ago, come up against another Merthyr Town, who play one division lower than Hitchin Town and are in sixth-place in the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South & West table.

Warrilow said: “I’ve done my homework on every team we’ve played this year and Saturday was a prime example against Hayes & Yeading and they turn up and there’s five players missing from the side that were playing and that’s the things that happen.

“We’re prepared for it, but the most important thing is for us to turn up on the day. We know we’re not going to go up there and put our feet up expecting to win.

“We’re not a big time Charlie club. We’ll go there with the right attitude and work our socks off and make sure we’re in the hat for the next round.”

When asked what he is expecting at Penydarren Park, Warrilow said: “A battle, that’s what I’m expecting! Looking at the conditions and the weather and knowing what it’s like at Merthyr, I’ve played there myself as well, I’m expecting a real workmanlike effort from us.

“I’m expecting a Dorchester sort of performance. A game of if you can play football you will but deep down you have to knuckle down, dig in and grind out a result.  I’m expecting that sort of game there.”

Warrilow insists he is going to Wales to win and not play for a replay.

“A replay is better than going out, but we’re going there to obviously win the game,” he said.

“From our point of view if it goes to a replay it’s more of a pain for them than us with the travel aspect of it but we’re not going there in the frame of mine to bring them back for a draw.  We’re going there with the frame of mind to win the game!”

Warrilow added: “Every football club wants to stay in it (The FA Trophy) for as long as we can. 

“At the moment we’re in a nice position, a few points off the play-offs and we’re in the quarter-finals of the Kent Senior Cup and in the first round of The FA Trophy so we’ve got a couple of cups we’re looking to stay in and progressing in the league.”

Rory Hill scored his first goal of the season in the Angels’ 1-1 home draw against Hayes & Yeading last weekend.

Warrilow reflected: “A funny game really because to be fair to them they should have been out of sight by half-time. Worgs (Lee Worgan) has kept us in the game with three great saves.

“We’ve come in at 0-0 and second half they got a goal and once they got their goal we totally dominated the game and I really felt we should have won the game. We’ve hit the bar, had a goal disallowed and we’re piling on the pressure.

“At the end of it I was a little bit disappointed we didn’t come away with all three points but at the same time I’m not naive enough to realise that we were lucky to still be in the game at half-time.”

Central defender Ben Judge, who was sent-off against Hitchin Town for two yellow cards, is suspended on Saturday.

Visit Tonbridge Angels’ website: www.tonbridgeangelsonline.com  

Merthyr Town  v  Tonbridge Angels
The FA Carlsberg Trophy First Round
Saturday 24^th November 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Penydarren Park, Park Terrace, Merthyr, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales CF47 8RF