I want home advantage in the play-off's, says Warrilow

TONBRIDGE ANGELS maintained their push for the play-offs - with a 2-0 win at Boreham Wood yesterday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Both goals arrived in the second half at Meadow Park, courtesy of an Anthony Storey free-kick and a late header from defender Scott Gooding.

With Dover Athletic destined to clinch the Ryman Premier League title, the Angels are in third place, ten points behind Staines Town, but seven points clear of Carshalton Athletic, who they beat last week.

And Angels boss Tommy Warrilow, speaking to BBC Radio Kent yesterday, knows finishing in third place is important, as that will mean the west Kent club will be at home in the semi-finals of the play-off lottery.

“We can’t take nothing for granted, it’s still very tight,” he said. “There’s eleven games still to go, all we can do is get our head down.

“It’s an old saying, we’ll take it every game at a time. There’s a little eleven game league (that) I’ve given the lads, and at the moment we’ve stayed unbeaten. We’ve had two good wins after this time last week, we had the defeat against Sutton and we’ve bounced back with two excellent wins.

“All we can do is focus on Hornchurch and hopefully everyone drops points around us.”

Speaking about yesterday’s victory, their eighth on their travels this term, Warrilow added, “We kept plugging away, it wasn’t the best of first halves, but in the second half we kept patient.

“To be fair, they’re a decent team Boreham Wood, they knock it about, there’s a nice surface (at Meadow Park) but we kept our discipline and I think we got our just rewards in the end.”

With leading scorer Carl Rook ruled out with a combination of a knee injury and suspension, Leon Legge was used as a make-shift striker for the second successive game.

“We’ve changed our system slightly, putting big Leon Legge up there for the last couple of games and he’s been absolutely different gear for us,” praised Warrilow.

“He’s put himself about, he’s held the ball up, he’s won the flick-ons and he’s cashed in with a goal Tuesday (against Carshalton Athletic) and today he’s worked his socks off and was a major reason why we got the three points.”

Warrilow says Rook is expected to return to action in two weeks time, but Tommy Tyne came off the substitutes bench, having recovered from a thigh injury, yesterday and Warrilow is pleased to have the midfield playmaker back in action.

“We introduced Tommy Tyne, but we only had twelve first team players so there wasn’t a lot we could do,” said the manager.

“We put Tommy Tyne on and we got a couple of set pieces that came off for us, so I’m delighted with that.

“Rookie has a twinge in his knee, he’s suspended anyway, but he’s going to be out for another two weeks. It’s possible he might be getting his scan next week so hopefully there might be some positive reaction to it this week.”

AFC Hornchurch would have played three Kent sides in the space of seven days.

The Urchins, now in tenth place and only seven points adrift of the play-off zone, were held to a home goal-less draw by a Maidstone United side that have now gone ten games without a win.

The Essex side travel to champions-elect Dover Athletic on Tuesday night, before travelling to Longmead Stadium at the weekend.

And Warrilow has challenged his side to not let their standards slip.

“We’re at home next Saturday, so it will be nice to get a few people down there,” he said.

“Hornchurch were a good side last year, I understand they drew today and dropped a couple of points so all we’ve got to do really is focus on ourselves.

“Our target this year was to reach the play-off’s and once you get in there is not about the quality that you’ve got, but to have a bit of luck in the play-off games.

“We’d like home advantage but the most important thing is to get into the play-off’s.”

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

Quotes courtesy of Radio Kent: www.bbc.co.uk/kent

Tonbridge Angels v AFC Hornchurch
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 7^th March 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Betterview Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JW