It's our chance to impress, says Angels' youth team boss - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

Tonbridge Angels’ Southern Youth League team manager Gerry Cox urges fans to get themselves down to the Betterview Longmead Stadium for tonight’s FA Youth Cup showdown with Bromley, writes Stephen McCartney.

Victory tonight will set up a home third qualifying round clash against his former club Gravesend & Northfleet.

The Fleet have comfortably strolled past Chatham Town (9-0), Erith & Belvedere (6-0) and Sevenoaks Town (6-3) and will travel to the winner of tonight’s game.

“It’s a challenge for the lads,” Cox said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk hours before the game.

“Getting through the first round was good. It’s a nice competition, a chance for some of the lads to play in the FA Youth Cup.

Cox’s side are all second year under eighteen’s and play in the Southern Youth League, where they’ve got a 100% record after two outings and are just one point behind leaders Croydon Athletic - but with a game in hand.

Cox pointed out three key players who he hopes will impress under the floodlights in front of an expected crowd of 100.

He said: “Important role for Frank Fabiola at the centre of defence and the two strikers Michael Barker and Bobbie Dixey. Obviously I like them to find the net.”

Most of the Angels’ side started out at a Bexleyheath side, before moving to Gravesend & Northfleet and then onto their present club.

“This is only our second season with Tonbridge,” said Cox. “Last season we was with Tonbridge Angels and the season before that we were with Gravesend & Northfleet.

“The season before that most of the boys came from a south London club called Bruin, which is a club I set up a few years ago.

“We out grew the leagues we played in so that’s why we attached ourselves to Gravesend & Northfleet.”

Cox, whose at full strength, admits he has a talented pool of players to pick from.

“I certainly consider some of the boys I’ve got are the best outside the academy system outside the pro leagues,” he said.

“The boys in my team have had academy experience at the younger age groups.

Angels’ fans could be watching the next Jon Heath or Luke Piscina, home grown players that have progressed through the ranks into Tony Dolby’s first team squad.

“It would be nice for a big crowd,” said Cox. “The first team get good support so it will be nice for our supporters to come down and to see some of the boys that could be playing in the future.”

Graham Logsdon, Sevenoaks Town’s youth team manager, and general manager, warned Tonbridge just how good the Fleet are, having lost 6-3 at Greatness Park last night.

“The best side won, let’s not be silly,” he said. “They are a good side, put out their PASE team.

“I thought we showed well first half, we came from behind on two occasions to make it 3-3 at half time. We were 2-0 down at one stage.

“So we showed a lot of character but their fitness told in the end. You would expect that as they are basically full-time.

“The guy who impressed me was John Akinde. I endeavoured to do a man-to-man marking on Akinde but my lad, Ian Thompson, but the guy was just so streetwise.

TOP CLASS: Fleet striker John Akinde gave Sevenoaks Town defender Ian Thompson the run around during their 6-3 FA Youth Cup win at Greatness Park last night.
Photograph courtesy of www.gnfc.co.uk  

“I told him to stay tight, he endeavoured but his Akinde’s top class. Ian won’t find a better striker like that all season.

“In my opinion Ian done allright, I’m quite pleased with him. I don’t know how many Akinde scored but they are a good, professionally run outfit.

“Baring in mind they beat Erith & Belvedere by six and Chatham by nine, I look at that as a good test, and holding a team of that nature at three-all at half time we showed a lot of character but class always shows in the end.

“No complaints. The pitch played well after all the rain we’ve had and it was a good game for the spectators.”

But Logsdon feels local rivals Tonbridge Angels will have their work cut out if they get past Bromley tonight.

He added: “I would say they would have their work cut out. If they put their full PASE academy side they will, in my opinion, have to be exceptional to beat them. That’s the best side I’ve seen.

“But I was pleased with the way we performed apart from the last 20 minutes, but I would have expected that.”

Elsewhere, goals from Sam Brennan (2), skipper Niall McCourt (2), Sam Baker and Carl Munday gave Ramsgate a 6-1 win over Whyteleafe at Southwood Stadium.

Tonbridge Angels v Bromley
FA Youth Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Second Qualifying Round
Thursday 12^th October 2006
Kick Off 7:45pm
At the Betterview Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge