We need everyone pulling together, says Warrilow

Wednesday 10th February 2010

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow says Saturday’s home game against Dartford must go ahead to help with the club’s tight finances, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Darts arrive at Longmead Stadium sitting proudly at the top of the Ryman Premier League table, but Tony Burman’s side have suffered defeats to Billericay Town and Sutton United, without scoring, and as a result their lead at the top has been cut to seven points.

The Angels ended their eight-match winless run in the league with a morale boosting 3-2 home win over in-form Cray Wanderers last night, courtesy of a rare right-footed strike from Kirk Watts and two Marc Cumberbatch headers.

Warrilow’s men have climbed above Billericay Town in the Ryman Premier League table and are now one place above the relegation zone.

“We know where we are but I’ve said all along it’s all about the points, it‘s not where you are” Warrilow told www.kentishfootball.co.uk last night.

“I’m fully aware where we are and I don’t need telling that. I’m trying to keep the vibes positive down here, which is hard work at the moment with what’s going on around the club, but all I want to do is take each game at a time.

“We’ve got a massive game against Dartford and even if we win tonight and beat Dartford I’m not going to jump up and down. It’s about pushing us back up the table and getting to the right end of the table where we should be.”

Dartford defeated Tonbridge 2-0 at Princes Park last October and if that game is anything to go by, then we’re in for a cracker at Longmead Stadium on Saturday.

But only 220 fans watched the win over Cray Wanderers last night, and Warrilow wants both sets of supporters to turn out in force on Saturday.

“Dartford are a very, very good club, top of the league and rightly so,” said the Angels boss.

“I’ve got a lot of pals at Dartford. I want it on Saturday. I know the snow’s suppose to be coming but we went there at the start of the season and we put in a good performance up there, but I’m hoping for a good crowd because we need the revenue. We need everything at the moment.

“My main concern is getting eleven players out on the pitch at the moment. We’re losing Scott Gooding and Tom Bryant so we are down to the bare bones.”

Warrilow praised the vocal backing he received last night, despite being on the receiving end of abuse in cyberspace.

“I’m just down here to do my best for Tonbridge Angels Football Club and if you want people trying to stir it then that’s down to them,” he said.

“I appreciate this season hasn’t been brilliant but we’ve not been playing that badly. We’ve not had the rub of the green with some stuff. It’s not an excuse. It’s a fact.

“I’ve said to the boys we deserve to push on a little bit and hopefully this (win over Cray Wanderers) will give us a little springboard to do that.

“I came down here to do my best. The resources are tight down here and that’s not a criticism it’s a fact and we’ve just got to get on with it.

“We need everyone pulling together and I know it’s frustrating but I don’t think the performances have been that bad, apart from Hastings away.

“Hand on heart I don’t think they’ve been that bad but everyone’s entitled to their opinion.”

Former Tonbridge Angels striker Carl Rook, who left for Dartford for an undisclosed transfer fee at the end of last month, having scored 64 goals in 82 starts, will have to watch Saturday’s game from the sidelines, part of the deal that took him to Princes Park.

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

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

Tonbridge Angels v Dartford

Ryman Premier League

Saturday 13th February 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

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