30thsept05

Friday 30th September 2005

My best moment as a manager, admits Dolby

Tonbridge Angels' player-boss Tony Dolby hailed his side's 3-2 FA Cup over Fisher Athletic last Saturday as the best of his managerial career, writes Jez Durrant.

Goals from Danny Lye and two from Jay May sealed Tonbridge's passage into the third qualifying round, where they travel to Nationwide Conference North side Worcester City next Saturday, 8th October.

They are now just two wins from the first round proper of the world's most famous cup competition.

Although Dolby was delighted at putting one over his former club, he was equally pleased with his side's 2-1 win over Croydon Athletic on Tuesday night, which saw them return to the top of the Ryman League Division One table.

Dolby told the Kent and Sussex Courier Newspaper: "Taking everything in to account it was probably the biggest win of my managerial career.

"For me personally it did not mean as much as some of the other lads who have connections with the club. I have a lot of fond memories of Fisher and still know a lot of people there.

"However, I saw this as an opportunity to catch a very good side cold. We had a job to do, the tactics were spot on and all the boys were up for it and were quite comfortable in the end."

He added: "With the draw for the next round there is no pressure on us. Worcester are not flying at the moment but they are two divisions higher than us.

"If we can start well and get the crowd on their backs we have a good chance."

Speaking about Tuesday night's win in which he and Luke Piscina scored the goals, Dolby said: "I have been in that situation so many times when you have to come off the back of a good FA Cup win.

"We have a busy schedule lately and I knew there would be some heavy legs.

"It was important to get the first goal as the boys may not have been as mentally strong as usual and I am over the moon to have got all three points.

"There are games I may look at later in the season and say that was an important three points and given the circumstances I think Croydon Athletic was a massive win."

Captain Steve Aris missed Tuesday's game following a nose operation and will be absent for the next four weeks.

John Beales limped off in Tuesday's game but Dolby has signed 31-year-old defender Lew Watts from Nationwide Conference South side Welling United.

Tonbridge travel to Lymington & New Milton tomorrow before travelling to Molesey on Tuesday night.

The club has played two games a week since the season started and Dolby said it was a heavy schedule for his side to cope with.

He added: "It's a bit ridiculous but it's the same for other teams. Dover have only played five league games and are out of the FA Cup.

"They will catch up with those league games but it may be at a stage in the season when they are out of all the cups.

"It's frustrating but I expect my boys to go and do a job but we do have a very heavy workload at the moment."

Lymington & New Milton v Tonbridge Angels
Ryman League Division One
Saturday 1st October 2005
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Fawcetts Field, Christchurch Road, New Milton, Hampshire