Billericay Town 1-1 Tonbridge Angels - Warrilow rues Legge's third red card

Angels' manager, Tommy  Warrilow, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, admitted, "I thought we created more clear cut chances, but even in the second half when we were under the cosh a little bit, (goalkeeper Lee Worgan) has not had to make many saves.

"It is probably the worst we've played for a while. We didn't match their workrate, which you have to do."

In truth, it was against the run of play when Joe Flack gave Billericay
the lead on 23 minutes, driving the ball home under the advancing Worgan, after both Wayne Semanshia and Rikki Burbridge had shots blocked by the Tonbridge defence in the build-up.

By this stage, Paul Booth, with a lob over Tony Tucker just going wide, Steve Ferguson and Jamie Cade, dragging shots wide from 16 and 12 yards respectively, could have given the visitors the early goal that would have settled nerves, and maybe given them the confidence to play a more controlled style of football.

After the shock of conceding, Tonbridge were level within three minutes, when Cade was upended in the box by left-back Ashley Dumas.

Carl Rook stepped up and drilled the spot-kick into the bottom left corner, sending Tucker the wrong way.

Rook had one further chance before the interval, with an audacious back flick from an Anthony Storey cross, but Tucker was able to fall on the ball on the line.

As Warrilow admitted, the second half was disappointing, as neither side could gain any dominance.

"We just started hitting long balls," he said. "I thought Boothy played well tonight, his movement was excellent.

"But second half, he and Carl were just chasing bits and bobs. Overall, if you saw us Saturday and then tonight, it was like two different teams."

With both teams feeding on scraps of possession, the Angels defence had to be at their best, with Phil Starkey and Scott Gooding both making last ditch tackles, to deny Flack and Joe Okojie, before Gooding reacted quickest to a rebound in the Billericay box, but saw his bicycle kick loop over from three yards.

Substitute Tommy Tyne, on for Lee Minshull who constantly frustrated the
home crowd by marking Paul Shave out of the game, almost broke the
deadlock with 10 minutes left, hitting a dipping 25-yard left-foot volley, that Tucker had to claw away from under the bar at full stretch.

The balance of the game then changed on 86 minutes, when Leon Legge was sent off for hauling down Flack on the edge of the area.

Burbridge flicked a long clearance behind the Angels' defence and Flack appeared to catch Legge as the defender tried to clear.

As Legge stumbled, Flack broke towards the box and although he did well to recover, Legge was left with no alternative but to pull the forward back.

Although the decision and red card were both correct, Tonbridge were left aggrieved that the initial foul hadn't been seen and Warrilow was upset about the decision to hand the former Lewes defender his third red card of the season.

"Everyone here could see he (Legge) was first to the ball, then the lad's caught him and raked him down the achilles," bemoaned Warrilow.

"That's the initial foul and there's no other reason he would stop. It's a massive decision that the ref's made there, to him it's just a red."

Just when they thought they were getting past the disciplinary problems of the last few weeks, this could have a massive impact on Tonbridge's play-off hopes.

Not only is Legge now likely miss the play-offs completely, but the club are still waiting to hear how many games Ade Olorunda will miss following his late dismissal on Saturday, and skipper Anthony Storey will miss the last two league games against Harrow Borough and Dover Athletic as well.

Looking forward to the Easter weekend, when Tonbridge travel to Tooting & Mitcham on Friday, followed by the visit of Tony Dolby's Hastings to Longmead on Monday, Warrilow said, "I expect the games to be exactly what we saw here tonight, very direct games of football and we've got to match their workrate.

"Hastings have obviously changed a bit and its going to be tough.

"We've got to make sure we get the points we need to be mathematically certain of the playoffs.

"Tony and Simon will be coming back, and you know how it goes; a team that hasn't been winning might just pull a result out. Hopefully we will have looked after our own destination by then."

On a brighter note for Tonbridge, it looks as though their injury worries are easing. Legge should be fit for the weekend games, despite massive stud marks down the back of his leg, and both John Westcott and Lewis Hamilton should be in contention for selection. The only slight worry is over Fraser Logan, who has returned to training.

Billericay Town: Tony Tucker, Michael Alaile, Ashley Dumas, Steve Heffer,
Nikki Beale, Paul Shave, Idemudia Okojie, Leon Hunter, Joe Flack, Rikki
Burbridge, Wayne Semanshia.
Subs: Lee Hodges, Dean Etchells, Neil Marron, Harrison Chatting,
Danny Fowler.

Goal: Joe Flack 23

Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Phil Starkey, Simon Glover, Lee Minshull(Tommy Tyne 72), Leon Legge, Scott Gooding, Steve Ferguson, Anthony Storey, Paul Booth, Carl Rook (Ade Olorunda 83), Jamie Cade (Tim Olorunda 86).
Subs: John Westcott, Dwain Clarke.

Goal: Carl Rook 26 (pen)

Sent Off: Leon Legge 86

Attendance: 372
Referee: Mr David Bushell (Tottenham, London N17)
Assistants: Mr James Kelly (Stratford, London E15) & Mr Ernest Ako (Barking, Essex)