We're looking a different side now, says Tonbridge Angels boss Tommy Warrilow

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow says there’s a spring in his players’ step ahead of tomorrow’s trip to high-flying Dartford, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Angels lie in fifteenth place in the Blue Square Bet South table after their 3-1 home win over full-time outfit Salisbury City and a creditable 2-2 draw away to Chelmsford City last Monday.

Reflecting on their win over full-time Salisbury, one of three full-time sides in the division along with Eastleigh and Farnborough, Warrilow said: “Again, the work ethic.  They’re a very good side Salisbury.  We’ve played three full-time teams this year and they’re what I call a proper, experienced full-time team, very, very good, fit, experienced, they knew all the ticks of the trade and I’d be surprised if they’re not up there.

“The fact that we beat them 3-1 sort of explains on the day we were fantastic from one to eleven.  Everyone did their all.  We got some fantastic goals and we deserved the win. 

“It’s put some pride back into the lads’ which was much needed and being at home it was great for the supporters as they’ve seen a couple of bad results down there but we’ve turned the table around and it’s well pleasing.”

Two late goals from substitute Chris Henry and leading goalscorer Frannie Collin earned a point at Chelmsford City.

“Anyone at the game, we should never had been 2-0 down.  They got a dubious penalty – they already had two penalty appeals turned down only seven minutes old, so it tells you the pressure the referees are under down there.  We were warned about it and I warned the lads’,

“The first half we got into some good areas and played some good stuff and we should have nicked one back before half-time.

“We were kicking into a strong wind second half.  We kept the same momentum going.  We kept patient and we got our just rewards.  We were a little bit gutted that we didn’t take all three points.”

Dartford moved into second place in the Blue Square Bet South table after Welling United slipped to a shock 2-1 defeat at Boreham Wood last Monday and Staines Town were defeated at Princes Park by the same score line 24 hours later.

When asked what he is expecting in the mouth-watering Kent derby at Princes Park tomorrow, Warrilow said: “The same as what we’ve had really.  Tomorrow is our eleventh game.  This week I don’t think anyone expected us to get any points out of Salisbury, Chelmsford and Dartford so we’ve took four out of six.

“We went to Dartford on Tuesday night to watch them.  I saw Tony (Burman) and they’re a good side and the table doesn’t lie, so they’ve got strength in depth and we’re expecting another really, really hard game.”

Warrilow added: “We’ve played Welling, Sutton, Woking, Dover, Chelmsford, we’ve got Dartford tomorrow, we’ve played Salisbury.

“We’ve had seven (top sides) and we’ve only played 11 games, two of the other four games were full-time outfits.  Like I said from day one, we just have to worry about ourselves.  If we get ourselves right, on our day we can beat anyone.

“But my own issues is if we make mistakes our heads will drop and we look like a team that’s panicking.

“Thankfully the last three performances we’ve taken that out of the game and we’re looking a different side now.  There’s a spring in the boys’ step.  We’re not getting carried away.  We’ve turned the tables a little bit this week.

“People felt we wouldn’t get anything tomorrow.  It might have been seen as a three-pointer for Dartford.  It will now possibly be a harder bridge to cross as our last two results have obviously been good results.”

Tonbridge Angels have picked up 12 points from their first ever ten games at Conference South level – two points more than Tony Burman’s Dartford side picked up this time last year.

“Dartford have had three promotions in five seasons or whatever,” said Warrilow.  “They came into the Ryman Premier and found their feet in the first year and the second year they went up.

“Last year they were getting stick following their start but they finished strong and look what they’ve done this year.  It doesn’t happen overnight. This year they’ve addressed last year and they’re going in the right direction – and we’re the same.  I want to make a fist of it every season.  We’ll know a lot about this league if we’re in it next year.”

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

Dartford  v  Tonbridge Angels
Blue Square Bet South
Saturday 24^th September 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT