We've just drawn too many games, admits Tonbridge Angels boss Tommy Warrilow

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow has exchanged plesentaries with their Kent rivals Bromley ahead of tomorrow’s clash at Longmead Stadium.



The Angels climbed up six places in the Blue Square Bet (Conference) South table to 12^th place with 23 points from 19 games following their 2-1 home win over second-placed Dover Athletic on Boxing Day.

Sonny Miles, who featured in midfield before slotting back in defence following Henry Muggeridge’s red-card, gave the Angels’ the lead, against the run of play, in the 21^st minute, after Dover Athletic started the game on the front foot.

Home-grown Miles also scored Tonbridge’s first goal last Boxing Day, in their 2-2 home draw against Bromley.

Tonbridge Angels doubled their lead after 65 minutes when striker George Purcell scored his fifth goal of the season, against his former club.

But Dover Athletic pulled a goal back with three minutes remaining, courtesy of Ben May’s 12^th goal of the season.

The game was watched by the club’s largest crowd of the season when 710 flocked through the turnstiles and they will be hoping for a similar crowd when Mark Goldberg brings his Bromley side to Longmead Stadium tomorrow.

Bromley haven’t played since their shock 1-0 home win over Blue Square Bet Premier side Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Carlsberg Trophy Second Round on 15 December and they will travel to Dartford next month, the side that ended the Angels’ campaign in the competition.

The Hayes Lane outfit have slipped into the bottom three with 19 points from 17 games but Warrilow knows Bromley owner Jerry Dolke and says that their Kent rivals are in a false position.

The Ravens are in the last sixteen of The FA Carlsberg Trophy for the first time in the club’s history and reached the FA Cup First Round for the third time in five years when they went down to a 3-0 defeat away to League Two big-spenders Fleetwood Town.

Warrilow said: “I like Bromley. I think they’re a good side.  We went up there and held them to a draw. Again, we had a man sent off but I think the squad that they’ve up there this year they were my dark horses at the start of the season.

“I think they’ve got a good little side there and they show it in the Cup games. I speak to the owner Jerry (Dolke), he’s just similar to us, we’re just struggling a little bit in the league so if they get it right on their day again theyr’e another side that can have a go at it.

“They’ve got strength in depth. We just expect another tough game here.”

The Angels ended a run of three straight defeats and three games without scoring against Dover Athletic on Boxing Day, but Warrilow admits his side have drawn too many games.

“We’ve just drawn too many games. That’s the bottom line. It’s not like we’ve lost a load, but when you draw a lot, like we’ve drawn eight, they do hurt you.

“When you’ve given someone three points it shoots them up.  When you come off with another draw at least it stops them getting three points so with us it’s just that fine line.
We’re not far off but we’ve made it hard for ourselves.”

Meanwhile, Tonbridge Angels have today unveiled the signing of powerful midfielder David Ijaha.

He started his career playing for the Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Academy. He was with the club from 2006–2010, playing for the various youth teams and eventually the reserve team.

However, in June 2010 he was released from Wolves and joined Staines Town on trial, where his friend, current Bromley striker Ali Chaaban, played for them at the time.

Ijaha then joined Ryman Premier League side Harrow Borough in August 2010. He quickly implemented himself into he first-team impressing manager David Howell. In the summer of 2011 Ijaha followed manager David Howell and signed for St Albans City where Howell had been made manager.

After wearing the captain's armband in a couple of St. Albans's pre-season friendlies he was made first team captain.

Ijaha went on to make 66 appearances for St Albans City and scored a total of 9 goals.

Subject to a 10am pitch inspection

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

Tonbridge Angels  v  Bromley
Blue Square Bet South
Saturday 29^th December 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JF