Expectant Tonbridge set to gatecrash Stones' homecoming party

TOMMY WARRILOW has told his Tonbridge Angels side to gatecrash Wealdstone’s homecoming party on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The west Kent giants are the first side to play a Ryman Premier League game at Wealdstone’s Grosvenor Vale ground in Ruislip.

“Their new ground looks very nice , we’ve had them watched and I know they’ve got a couple of loan players from Watford, so they’re going to be up for it,” Warrilow told www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight. 

"We've got a few lads coming back from injury, which will be a massive plus.”

But Warrilow is without two midfielders for their opening game. Anthony Storey serves a one-match ban and is still nursing a knee injury and Michael Phillips will be available for Tuesday night’s home game against Harlow Town as he serves just a one-match ban.

Warrilow is confident that his side will click into gear when the league season kick’s off on Saturday.

He said: “I’ll be perfectly honest, the last few games have been hit and miss with the way we’ve been playing.

“It’s going to be expected with seven new faces coming into the squad, getting used to the system but I’m more than confident once everyone is available for selection.

“The squad will gel and pushing at the right half of the table to push out of the league this year.”

Warrilow has been told by the club to clinch promotion into the Blue Square South at the end of this season and the former Horsham assistant manager, who took over last November, is relishing the challenges ahead.

“I’d like to think I’ve stamped my mark on how we want to play and we just missed out last year. That doesn’t count for nothing year, we have to start afresh,” said Warrilow.

“The league is a lot more contested, last year it was a two horse race, but this season seven or eight teams believe they can go one and we’re one of them.”

Warrilow will announce who will captain the side at tomorrow night’s final training session but stresses the importance of coming away with three points in the bag.

But he warned: “The first game of the season, as you saw last Saturday in the Conference South, there’s always going to be surprise results.

“People predict who will go up and down but there will be some surprise packages.

“It’s always a hard game against Wealdstone (but) it’s important to get three points and build on that for the home game against Harlow.”

Harlow Town face a very tough opening week to the new season as the Essex side open with a home game against much-fancied side Sutton United before travelling to an expectant Longmead Stadium three days later.

Warrilow will fine-tune preparations ahead of their season of expectancy.

“It’s just making sure the lads are fit. I’ve got a rough idea on whose starting,” he said.

“We had to send the reserves to Chatham last Thursday night as I only had five players training. The only one struggling is Anthony Storey with his knee ligaments.

Warrilow, who hands seven players their debut at Wealdstone, added: “Four games in nine days, there’s a lot of points to play for. It’s important to start well as it’s a marathon and not a sprint.

“Hand on heart I’m not putting pressure on the players, I know what the board expect from me and the players. The way we ended last year, as a club, we’re talked about.

“I’m under no illusions this year. The word is expectation. The fans expect and we expect. It’s not a forgone conclusion. You need (friendly) games like AFC Wimbledon for a kick up the backside and a reality check.

“We are going to play badly and lose but what I will promise is I will nip it in the bud and react to what’s negative.

“With the squad I’ve got, I’ve got options to keep the players on their toes. They will make mistakes as their human - I ask the fans to be patient.”

“It’s great with the expectations and the pressure this year and you find a lot about your players.

“I want pressure as it shows you’re at a good club. I’ve never been one to settle for mediocrity. My aim is to improve on last year but with a few other teams we’ve got a chance of going up.”

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

Wealdstone v Tonbridge Angels
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 16^th August 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 6QJ