We've got to start putting our chances away, says Warrilow

Wednesday 28th October 2009

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow has held morale boosting talks with his strike-force ahead of the FA Carlsberg Trophy tie against Merstham at Longmead Stadium on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Warrilow revealed that he held talks with strikers Carl Rook and Paul Booth, as well as winger Steve Ferguson at last night’s training session to boost their morale, ahead of the second qualifying round tie.

The pacy Surrey side, presently in fifth place in the division below the Angels, sprung a big shock in the last round, winning 6-1 at highflying Ryman Premier League side Hastings United - all seven goals coming before the break at The Pilot Field.

The Angels go into the Longmead Stadium clash on the back of a 2-0 defeat against high-flying Boreham Wood last Saturday, but Warrilow, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight, says performances have been fine, it’s just the usual problem of not converting chances.

“The performances have been fine in the last five games to be honest,” he said.

“We’ve been playing really well but we’re just not putting our chances away. It’s gone back to the way it was at the start of the season, but regarding worrying or panicking about how we’re playing, far from that, it’s just frustrating that we’re just missing the vital finishing touch in the final third.

“All we can do is keep trying and addressing it in training and hopefully with the lads we’ve got up front we’ll correct that and get it right because people like Booth and Rook when you try and find people better than that out there it’s very hard to come by.

“But we need to start killing teams off and we’re not, that’s what’s been missing and that’s not just Saturday, but the previous four games prior to that.”

Warrilow urges Booth and Rook to start banging in the goals, starting against Merstham on Saturday.

“I’m not signalling them two out,” added Warrilow. “We had a good chat at training but they’ve got to be held up and accountable. I said to them and Fergy (Ferguson) could be playing a lot better than he is. He’s done better lately and Rookie and Boothy have to score a lot more goals.

“When you’re not scoring goals you look at your front two, it’s human nature. If you’re letting goals in you look at your back four.

“Most people would give their right arm for those two, we know it’s there, hopefully on Saturday we can kick into gear and get them on the score sheet to relax them and we can kick on as usual.”

But attention now turns to qualifying for the final qualifying round when Merstham, just four points adrift of Ryman League Division One South leaders Folkestone Invicta, visit.

“Tough game,” warned the Angels boss. “They beat Hastings 6-1 in the previous round so we’re not going to take them lightly.

“But if we can keep playing as we are then there shouldn’t be any problems. We’re not going to take it lightly as they’re sitting well in their league and are going to be pretty confident.

“if we can put the same sort of performance as we did against Sutton in the previous round, there shouldn’t be any problems.”

Tough-tackling midfielder, Anthony Storey (one-match ban) joins injured trio, Scott Gooding, Nick Davis and Gavyn Dayes on the sidelines.

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

Mike Green will be covering this game for both www.kentishfootball.co.uk and BBC Radio Kent (96.7fm or 104.2fm)

Tonbridge Angels v Merstham

FA Carlsberg Trophy Second Qualifying Round

Saturday 31st October 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

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