Effort will keep us there, says table topping Dolby

Tonbridge Angels remain at the top of the Ryman Premier League table after winning their first four games, but the Betterview Longmead Stadium outfit are keeping their feet firmly on the ground, writes Stephen McCartney.

Wins over Hendon (1-0), Worthing (6-1) and Carshalton Athletic (2-0) was followed by a 3-2 win at Kent rivals Ramsgate earlier today.

The Angels, who were promoted via the play-off’s last season, to join the Rams and Horsham in the Ryman Premier League, were 3-0 up after 51 minutes.

A stunning 22-yard strike from Robert Kember, opening his account with the west Kent club after his move from Crawley Town, was followed by a brace from striker Jon Main.

The 25-year-old hot-shot, who scored four goals against Worthing last week, punished a howler from Ramsgate’s former Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Chris May, rolling a shot inside the near post from 30-yards, on the stroke of half-time, before netting again early in the second half.

But when striker Ray Powell was sent off after 63 minutes for a two-footed foul on May, as the goalkeeper smothered the ball at his feet, this gave the Thanet side the inspiration they needed.

Striker Shaun Welford opened his account for the new campaign with two goals in the space of three minutes, scoring with a thunderous volley, which crashed into the top far corner, and netting a 73^rd minute penalty after Stuart Vahid was tripped by John Beales inside the box.

“We’ve worked very hard to get there and it’s exactly where we want to be at this stage of the season,” manager Tony Dolby told www.kentishfootball.co.uk after their fourth successive win.

“We’ve chopped and changed a little bit in pre-season in order to prepare for the start of the season.

“I felt we were well prepared, we went into the first game full of confidence and we’ve never looked back since.”

Dolby is, however, delighted that his side have netted 12 goals so far this season, conceding just three at the other end.

“We’ve definitely worked on some good movement this year and it’s paying dividends,” he said. “We’re restricting teams to minimal chances and we’re working extremely hard in the middle of the pitch as well.”

Walton & Hersham, who have collected just one point so far, are the visitors to the Betterview Longmead Stadium next Saturday, and Dolby will be looking for another victory.

But he warned: “They’re going to be a big strong physical side, not too dissimilar to today, so we’ll dust ourselves down and go again (in training) on Thursday night and hopefully we’ll get another three points.”

They’re vibes from the Angels’ faithful that they’re not going to stay at the top of the table, especially with so many rival clubs spending big money this season.

But Dolby will do all he can to keep his side at the summit on their return to the Ryman Premier League.

This side are a lot better than they players that played for the club the last time they played in this league.

“The thing is with us we’re going to give it a go, every training session, every game whether it’s a cup or league game, no matter what, we’re going to give it 110%,” he said.

“We’re expecting that off the players so all we’re going to do is to take each week and hopefully build up some momentum. Confidence is obviously there and we’re playing some decent stuff so it’s a privilege to be involved at the moment.”

Dolby was, however, pleased that his side became the first side this season to take all three points at fortress Southwood Stadium.

He said: “It’s well documented they very rarely lose games.

“Baring the sending off today, 3-0 up and cruising midway through the second half, it would have turned some heads had we left here with a three or four nil win but I’m glad in a way that it’s 3-2, it’s another tight game.

“A few teams will still be saying “who have they played?” but the fact of the matter is we’ve beaten whose in front of us quite comfortably and looking forward to the next game.”

Dolby admitted he’s not yet quite sure what punishment to dish out to Powell following his red-mist challenge on the Rams’ stopper.

“Again I need to have a think abut it and I’ll deal with it accordingly during the course of the week.”

But the player is facing a three match ban for his misdemeanours.

Ramsgate boss Jim Ward, meanwhile, will be hoping to collect more than four points from their next four games.

The Rams started with very difficult fixtures against Heybridge Swifts (2-0), AFC Wimbledon (0-0) and Bromley (0-1) before today’s game, but hopes their next four league games - against Horsham (away), Billericay Town (home), East Thurrock United (home) and Chelmsford City (away) will bring more points.

But the Thanet side know this season will be their toughest yet.

“We’ve learnt the obvious things that you’re going to get punished for mistakes,” Ward said.

“It’s a bad day at the office. We’ve given them three goals to start really before we’ve decided to start playing, which is the last 25 minutes, and we’ve battered them last 20 minutes - we got two - and on another day we might have got three or four.”

But Ward was delighted that striker Shaun Welford opened his account for the new season, with two goals in the space of three minutes.

“He’s a big player more than anything else,” he said. “We never got the three points but I’m glad that Shaun got a couple of goals.

“To be fair he should have got one with five minutes to go, and I think we were going to win it, if he had done that.

“He done it on one foot as well as his ankle is like a balloon.”

But Ward is confident his side can collect three points in west Sussex next Saturday, against a Horsham side that they pipped to the Ryman League division one title last season.

“We pipped them to the league championship, no doubt it will be a fast and furious game again Saturday - I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

“But nobody’s going to give me a trophy in August. Difficult start with the teams we’ve had to play - so people keep telling me.

“Anyway, let’s hope the next four are easier than the last four. I might get a few more points out of it.

“We’re allright. We are what we are, Ramsgate Football Club. We’ll always be positive, give them what we’ve got, honest endeavour and that’s what we work on.”

Visit Ramsgate's website:  www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk

Visit Tonbridge Angels' website: www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk