We want to stay in this competition for as long as possible, says Tommy Warrilow

TONBRIDGE ANGELS manager Tommy Warrilow says he wants to break the club’s FA Cup jinx on Sunday.


The Angels’ last enjoyed a FA Cup run in the 2009-2010 season when they defeated Metropolitan Police and Horsham YMCA before the then Ryman Premier League side went down to a 2-0 home defeat to Conference South side Bromley in the Third Qualifying Round.

Since then the club have suffered costly exits at the first hurdle to Guildford City, Chelmsford City and Dover Athletic.

Warrilow takes his side to Woking on Sunday to face their Conference South rivals Hayes & Yeading United in the Second Qualifying Round looking to claim the welcomed £4,500 in prize money.

“It’s the away draws as well,” explained Warrilow.  “Three years’ on the spin we’re away from home, but it is what it is. When you come in this late in this competition you have to be really lucky to get an easy ride. A lot of sides have knocked each other out.

“We’ve got a side that’s on level par on us. We’ve just got to go there in a positive frame of mind and hope we have a bit more success than we’ve had in the last couple of years.”

Hayes & Yeading United are managed by former Liverpool defender Phil Babb and go into the clash sitting in ninth-place in The Skrill South table with a 50% record from their eight league games.

Tonbridge Angels arrive in Woking in the bottom six with two wins and two draws from the same number of games and go into the game on the back of a disappointing 2-0 defeat at newly-promoted strugglers Gosport Borough last weekend.

When asked what he’s expecting against Hayes & Yeading, the Tonbridge boss said: “Like I say every week, a hard game. They’ve started well this year, a new manager etc etc. 

“We’re going there on a back of not our best performance last weekend but we’ve lost one in our last five games.

“We’re going there to believe that we can win a game of football and we want to stay in this competition for as long as possible.”

Warrilow says he wants to bring some much needed prize money into the club’s coffers after missing out in the past three years.

“Everything will help in this day and age. Money is tight everywhere so any manager would tell you the same thing,” he said.

“We’re not going to win it (The FA Cup) but we want to stay in it for as long as possible for the financial benefits and days out for the fans’.

When asked what The FA Cup means to him, Warrilow added: “It’s a chance to have these good days out, get good publicity for the football club and the financial prizes that come with it.

“It’s a great competition and it’s one that we’d like to have a run in but unfortunately over the last couple of years we haven’t had a chance to do that for one reason or another. We’ve gone out of it at Chelmsford away and Dover away, those two sides are good, big clubs.

“Our jobs is to keep the lads’ focused on Hayes & Yeading. They’ve had a few changes, they’ve started well and I’m sure they’ll have a little spring in their step but as the weekend proves anything can happen.

“When Conference South sides play each other the form guide can go out of the window.  It’s only Eastleigh that have hit the consistent performance levels that we expected them to do.

“It’s all about what we do. I keep saying the same things to the lads. It’s about us and don’t worry. We’re prepared for other sides and get bits and bobs on them. It’s what we do on the day.

“We’re looking forward to putting last Saturday’s performance behind us.”

Reflecting on their league campaign, Warrilow points to the fact that Chelmsford City are surprisingly struggling in the bottom three, with seven points from eight games.

“It’s just been indifferent really,” admitted Warrilow. “I don’t think we’re no different to a lot of the sides in the league.

“Gosport beat us. A win or two wins catapults you up. I think we’re two wins out of a play-off position. It’s still tight.  I’d like more points on the table, obviously, but end of the day we’ve got what we’ve got. We’ve not got going as yet. We’ve got to hit the momentum.

“The most important thing in this league is not to lose. There’s a lot of draws in this league. Taking two points of the opposition as well does help.

“It’s so early. The league’s still tight and we’re confident with the way we’ve played.  At Gosport we’ve not played well but we’ve looked at it and addressed it and spoke about it and we just have to crack on with it.

“It’s going to be a long, old season, full of twists and turns. There’s a lot more teams worse off than us, bigger sides that have started frustratingly as well.

“I never lose perspective where we are. The most important thing is to get performances right and the results will come with it.”

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

Hayes & Yeading United  v  Tonbridge Angels
The FA Cup with Budweiser Second Qualifying Round
Sunday 29^th September 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Kingfield Stadium, Kingfield Road, Woking, Surrey GU22 9AA