I'm keeping the lads' on their toes, says Tonbridge Angels boss Tommy Warrilow

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow says that he expects a much sterner test against Welling United on Tuesday night.



Jamie Day’s side train three mornings a week now that they are a Conference Premier club and arrive at Longmead Stadium after playing Charlton Athletic, Millwall, Leyton Orient and Sittingbourne.

The Wings opened their pre-season campaign with a 5-0 home defeat in the annual curtain raiser against neighbours Charlton Athletic, before beating Millwall 4-2 and losing 4-1 to Leyton Orient on Friday night.

Day sent a young team to play Ryman League Division One South side Sittingbourne yesterday in what was a historic day for the Brickies as they won their first ever game at Woodstock Park, courtesy of a 2-0 win, with both goals being scored by the prolific striker Ryan Golding.

Tonbridge Angels, meanwhile, claimed the local bragging rights with a comfortable 5-1 win over Tunbridge Wells at Longmead Stadium on the hottest day off the year.

The Conference South side were 4-0 up courtesy of goals from former AFC Wimbledon youth-team striker Emmanuel Akokhia, Henry Muggeridge, former Harrow Borough and Braintree Town winger Ryan Watts and the returning Luke Blewden.

Former Angel, Richard Sinden, scored within three minutes of entering the pitch when he slotted home a consolation for Tunbridge Wells in the 63^rd minute, before former Folkestone Invicta and Crawley Down Gatwick striker Blewden latched onto a ball over the top from Sonny Miles to complete the scoring.

When asked what he wants out of the Welling United game, Warrilow said: “Possibly a clean sheet and just to build on yesterday.  It’s going to be a lot different. They’re going to be a big, physical side. They’re going to be dangerous from set-pieces, corners etc.  They’re training three times a week now.

“Our home fixtures are good. Maidstone, Dartford, Welling, Gillingham – four good home fixtures.

“As long as we pick up positives in between, the results, yesterday was no accident that we’ve won 5-1, but I was pleased with the team’s performance. We got a bit sloppy in the second half for ten minutes but we got back into it, but with all the changes we do, you have to settle for those performances.”

Warrilow has one slot up for grabs – initially for a defender – but revealed yesterday that he will release any non-contracted players currently in his squad if any of his trialists’ impress this week.

The Angels travel to Belgium to play KVV Vosselkaar on Saturday and Warrilow will make up his mind about his squad after the team bonding trip.

“We’ll have the game against Welling and we’ll go to Belgium and then we’ll come back from Belgium and give the boys more minutes.  Some of the lads can’t make Belgium so they’ll be getting the minutes against Welling and we’ll have to work it the best we can.”

The Angels open their third Conference South campaign with a home game against Boreham Wood on 17 August.

Warrilow’s side narrowly avoided the drop and settled for a disappointing sixteenth-place finish.

When asked whether he knows his starting eleven to face the Hertfordshire side, Warrilow replied: “No. I’ve got competition all round.  I know a few that will start but not all eleven.

“My forwards are scrapping it out, my central midfielders are. I’ve got three lads playing in wide areas.

“They’re all on their toes. There’s no bang, you’re in and in and in and in. It’s going to be like that this year and that’s what you have to have if you want to push on.  You’ve got to have a little bit of flexibility in the squad without the lads’ getting the hump!”

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

Tonbridge Angels  v  Welling United
Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday 16^th July 2013
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JF