8thapr05

Dolby sounds out: make super effort

TONBRIDGE ANGELS' player-manager Tony Dolby has called on his squad for a final big effort as they face up to the crucial last four games in the Ryman Premier League, writes Jez Durrant.

Tonbridge took a point from their away trip to Hendon last weekend with a 0-0 draw.  With division rivals Dover Athletic and Cheshunt also drawing and Harrow Borough losing, the relegation picture is much the same, with the Angels still looking to overhaul the three-point gap between them and safety.

Dolby told the Kent and Sussex Courier Newspaper he was fairly satisfied with a point and another clean sheet.

"The result keeps us in the picture," he said.  "Although I would have loved three points from that game.

"We can now look forward to Wealdstone still full of confidence.  It has got to happen now.

"We have Wealdstone, followed by Dover at home (16th April), then away at Harrow Borough.  These games are going to have such a massive influence on our season."

Dolby revealed he had asked his players for extra effort ahead of the crucial run-in fixtures.

"We have asked them to take a good look at themselves and realise the situation we are in.  At times this season we have done well in the face of adversity and we are still in with a shout at this late stage of the season.

"We want them to be professional.  My assistant Mike Rutherford and I have put in a lot of hard work this season and we have asked the players for that extra effort as we feel they owe us that."

Last Saturday's game saw Tonbridge fail to carve out any clear-cut chances in the first half, despite the hard work of strikers Steve Sodje and Leroy Huggins.

Dolby himself went close with a second-half free-kick but defender Craig Roser had to make a goal-line clearance to ensure Tonbridge finished with their second successive clean sheet.

For tomorrow's trip to Weladstone (at Edgware Town FC), Tonbridge will be without Dolby and Jay May, who are both suspended.  Paul Emblem will return to the squad and midfielder Danny Lye faces a late fitness test/

Tonbridge have already lost twice this season to the Stones and Dolby said that might play in his side favour.

He said: "They have lost their last three games and had a few suspensions.  They have beaten us twice this season and they might be a bit over-confident.  We might change our tactics and see if we can come away with a win on what is usually a bad pitch."

Wealdstone v Tonbridge Angels
Ryman League Premier Division
Saturday 9th April 2005
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Edgware Town FC, High Street, Edgware