Aris' relishing home play-off lottery - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

A point at bottom of the table, and already relegated, side Corinthian Casuals on Saturday will guarantee Tonbridge Angels home advantage in their semi-final play off on Monday (3pm).

Tonbridge Angels moved into third place in the Ryman League division one table, leapfrogging over Metropolitan Police on Tuesday night following their 2-0 win over Molesey.

Thirteen goal Ray Powell, whose collected the supporters player of the year award, headed home the second goal early in the second half after winger Fraser Logan drove home a seventh minute opener to score his third goal for the club.

Metropolitan Police, who host champions Ramsgate on Saturday, have already qualified with the Angels for the lottery of the play-offs.

That leaves a four-way fight for the last two remaining spots on a very tense final day of the season.

Dover Athletic are the side in the best form and since 4^th March, Clive Walker’s side have picked up 26 points from their last twelve games.

The Whites host Whyteleafe at Crabble on Saturday, looking to join Tonbridge in the end of season lottery.

The side that have fallen away are seventh placed side Tooting & Mitcham United.

Richard Caddett’s side have picked up just 11 points from their last ten games, followed by eighth placed side Croydon Athletic (18 points from 11 games).

The Terrors travel to Newport IOW looking to continue the Islanders miserable campaign having not won a home league game all season.

Croydon Athletic host Fleet Town.

Kingstonian, who occupy the final play-off place, travel to Hastings United having collected 20 points from their last 11 games.

Having witnessed Bromley’s promotion into the premier division last season, their semi-final clash against Metropolitan Police was a very tense affair, but George Wakeling’s side came through on penalties.

Cray Wanderers, though, lost in extra time at Horsham on the same night, but Bromley came away from Horsham with promotion following a convincing 3-1 win in the final.

This season we should have two Kent sides in the play-off’s once again. But it’s the team that will hold their nerve over the course of next week that will secure that lucrative place in the Ryman Premier League next season.

But Angels’ skipper Steve “Chopper” Arris will be hoping his side are the ones that get promoted next Saturday evening.

The Angels have not conceded a goal at their Betterview Longmead Stadium in their last three home games, and the former Fisher Athletic defender hopes that record and the passionate Longmead faithful will be enough to get them back into the Ryman Premier League, following their relegation last season.

“We’re showing good form at home at the moment, we’re not conceding goals so if we finish in that third place and get two home games with all our fans behind us, we’ve got good support own here, hopefully we can kick on and get promoted,” he said.

Angels player-boss Tony Dolby was pondering whether to make a couple of changes for their trip to Tolworth on Saturday, but Aris insists they’ve got enough good players within their squad to get the point needed.

But he warned: “Can’t take nothing for granted. We know we have to go there and get at least a point to secure third place.

“We’d like the opportunity to rest a few players considering the games are coming thick and fast on Monday but we’ll assess it.

“We’ve got a good squad here, hopefully rest one or two and hopefully we’ll have enough out there to get at least a point.”

With Ramsgate and Horsham already planning their Ryman Premier League campaigns next season, Aris, although “gutted” not winning automatic promotion, admit’s the team are fully focused.

“If you look back over the season we’re a bit gutted that we haven’t gone up automatically but that’s gone past us now,” he said.

“We can’t do nothing about that now - we look to the future and we take each game as it comes.”

PLAY OFF DETAILS
We will only know the four sides involved on Saturday evening, but:

The side that finishes in third place will host the side that finished in sixth, on Monday, 1^st May, 3pm

The side that finishes in fourth place will host the side that finishes fifth, on Monday, 1^st May, 3pm

Games will be finished on the day - with extra time and penalties if required

Season Tickers are NOT valid - it’s all pay on the day

The side that finishes the highest in the table will have home advantage in the final, which takes place on Saturday 6^th May, 3pm.