A few wins will do everyone a world of good, says Tonbridge Angels boss Tommy Warrilow

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow says he wants his side to get back on track – starting by producing a FA Carlsberg Trophy upset at Dartford on Saturday.



The Darts go into the Second Round tie sitting in sixth-place in the Blue Square Bet (Conference) Premier on 33 points from 22 games, but Tony Burman’s side have suffered three defeats on the bounce and as a result have dropped out of the play-offs.

Tonbridge Angels travel to Princes Park sitting in sixteenth-place in the dvision below, with 20 points from 18 games in Blue Square Bet (Conference) South and have lost their last two games.

“We’ve had a litlte hiccup, like Dartford, over the last few games and I’m sure both sides will be looking to get back on track.  To be honest we’ve not played particuarlyy well in the last couple of games,” said Warrilow.

“We had a good old battle against Merthyr (in the last round), a long old trip and got a good result.  We went to Truro and a litlte bit of a bug went through the camp, which has affected some of the boys.

“We went last week (a 1-0 defeat at Baisngstoke) and I said aferwards only two of my players, my two centre halves Ollie Schulz and Gary Elphick came out of the game with a good performance.  When you’re playing like that you’re going to struggle to get some results.

“We had a chat on Tuesday after training to stress a few issues, nothing too major, to nip it in the bud really because we’re in the Trophy. The League is as tight as ever and we have to make sure we don’t lose focus.

“We just got to get things back on track and a few wins will do everyone a world of good.”

When asked what he wants from his players for the Dartford game, Warrilow replied “Firstly, just through working hard and having my players’ turn up!

“I’ve got some good players who aren’t firing on all cylinders at the moment. They’ve been honest enough to admit that. 

“Good players don’t become bad players’ over night.

“I’ve got uptmost faith in my squad and my players. It’s my job to get my arm around them and get them playing again.

“I put my team up there with the best sides around. If we get things right there’s no reason why we can’t win a game of football on Saturday.”

Warrilow knows it will be tough to reach the last sixteen of the FA Carlsberg Trophy but Ryman Premier League side Wealdstone reached the semi-finals last season – beating Dartford along the way at the second attempt.

The Angels boss said: “Dartford have had a fantastic start to the season, they’ve gone up into a Football League league.  There’s a lot of full-time sides in there and what they’ve done staying part-time and finding their feet this year has probably gone past their best expectations.

“I’m expecting nothing but them getting back on track like we are. It’s the FA Trophy and we know what’s at the end of that (Wembley).

“This is our FA Cup Final. We all saw what Wealdstone did last year and we’re trying to emulate that and staying in it for as long as we can.

“It’s at Dartford, so I expect over 1,000 will be there. It’s local so hopefully our supporters’ will travel. We’ve had a bit of a mare with Merthyr and Truro in one week. We’ve not had a home game for ages so I’m hoping the fans’ get down there and get behind the boys.”

Visit Tonbridge Angels’ website: www.tonbridgeangelsonline.com  

Dartford  v  Tonbridge Angels
The FA Carlsberg Trophy Second Round
Saturday 15^th December 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT