I'm determined to make sure it's not us that go down, says Tonbridge Angels boss Tommy Warrilow

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow says he wants his injury-hit squad to give him everything to maintain the club’s Conference South status this week.


The Angels must collect at least one point from their last two games of the season to ensure Conference South football is played at Longmead Stadium for a third season next August.

Warrilow has issued a rallying cry for passionate support for their last two games, against Eastbourne Borough on Tuesday and against basement side Truro City next Saturday, to get his side over the finishing line safely.

“That’s a nice thing, it’s always has been (in our hands).  It’s just that point.  I always say at the start of the season and the players will tell you that every goal and every point will count and this is underlining that,” said Warrilow.

“There’s no panic mode down there. We highlighted the games we expected to get points form.”

The Angels went down to a 2-1 defeat to Chelmsford City last Monday and a 4-1 defeat to full-time outfit Eastleigh yesterday.  Those two clubs are in the play-offs and are backed financially.

Reflecting on those two games, Warrilow said: “Chelmsford was going to be a big ask and the lads done fantastic over there and were unlucky not to get that point and yesterday Eastleigh were just too strong for us. 

I didn’t expect to (win there), I don’t go to games thinking it, but it was a big ask to go there. They’ve got a massive squad with huge financial backing.  They’ve got strength-in-depth and it was always going to be difficult for the lads.

“They’ve given me everything over there, that’s what I asked.  I was disappointed with the first two goals.  I felt Worgs (goalkeeper Lee Worgan) was fouled for the first one and the second one Gary Elphick was pushed over.

“Once that was given it’s given them the impetus.  They’ve scored bang on half-time which gave them a massive list but I said to lads after the game, the lads were on their feet and the most important thing for us is the next two home games.”

Warrilow has been around football too long to realise that his side cannot afford to play for a draw against an Eastbourne Borough side that are in fifteenth-place in the table, safe on 47 points from their 40 games.

He said: “We’re not clever enough to set up sides and see games out. We just have got to treat it, without fielding too much pressure on the lads, we know what’s on the game. We don’t need to be told we need a point.

“I want the lads to go out and relax and do what they did against Staines and against Chelmsford in the second half, then give us their all. That’s all we can ask. It’s just that one elusive point.”

Tuesday night is the night when the Barmy Army are to sign along to the beat of the drum and provide their side the same passionate support from the terraces as they did during their Ryman Premier League play-off wins over Harrow Borough and Lowestoft Town.

“It’s a different type of scenario now but we want the same support,” said Warrilow.

“I said from day one, I feel our home form hasn’t been that bad (7 wins, 6 draws, 6 defeats) since the turn of the year. We’ve put some good performances in and I’m glad the last two games are at home because it’s vital for us to keep that Conference South status and we’ve got to address what’s happened this year at the end, but the most important thing is to stay in this league and give the fans and the town Conference South football next season.”

With their relegation battle going down to the last week of the season, Warrilow admitted he hasn’t had time to plan for next season.

“Until we’re home and dry, no we can’t sit down and go this, this, this and players’ deals etc,” he said.

“Gary Elphick is committed to the club for next season, which is fantastic and I’m trying to get a few other boys, once were safe, to do the same.”

Warrilow has learnt a lot from their second campaign at this level.

He said: “I’ve learnt when things go wrong you find the true colours of everyone.  As I’ve said from day one, it’s easy to manage a side that’s winning and successful.  I’d like to think I’ve been that since we’ve walked in the door.  This year we’ve never had years like this.

“It’s a show of character.  I’m quite fortunate where I know people say it a lot, I’m a strong character and I don’t mind getting stick. I’ve played the game and had stick as a player and I expect it and I expect it as a manager.

“I’ve learnt from myself that I can keep a calm head around when people are perhaps losing theirs. It’s been a good learning curve for me as a manager. It’s easy to manage when it’s going right, but when it goes wrong you find out a lot about people on and off the pitch and you make a note of it and move on.

“It’s been a poor year, so I don’t expect everyone to be happy because we’re going into the last two games of the season looking to survive.

“This year has not been good enough and they’ve been reasons and those reasons have got to be addressed come the summer time.”

When asked about whether he’s contemplated the worst case scenario – relegation next Saturday – Warrilow replied: “No. I’ve not thought of it at all. I know it’s there, but I’ve not thought of it. We’ve got two games.  I’d rather be in our position than Hornchurch’s position.  Out of us two, one go down. It’s a shame because they’re two great lads down there, Jimmy and Colin, I like them. Unfortunately one of us have to go down and I’m determined to make sure it’s not us.”

Last season’s Ryman Premier League champions, Billericay Town, are already down, finishing second-from-bottom with 37 points from 40 games, and runners-up AFC Hornchurch could suffer similar fate on Tuesday night.

“It’s a massive jump up,” said Warrilow.  “You can’t stagnate. We can’t stand still because you won’t get away with it. That’s what this year has proved.

“One thing we have done, when you look at the two teams that come up from last year, one’s gone down and the other one’s with us.  We’ve sustained our status if we get our point, we’ve had two years in it.

“It’s hard. It is hard and when you’ve got nothing to play with and no strength in depth it’s hard to change things and make changes like every club can do.

“I don’t expect the club to get itself in jeopardy or financial ruin to accommodate that, but we’ve got to be patient and we have to build off the pitch and if we can build off the pitch then we can build on it.”

Henry Muggeridge (hamstring), Tom Davis (foot), Lee Browning (knee), Jon Heath (hamstring/tonsillitis) and Chris Piper are all doubtful.

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

Tonbridge Angels  v  Eastbourne Borough
Blue Square Bet South
Tuesday 23^rd April 2013
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JF