Soccer Shorts: Warrilow forced to risk stars for League Cup tie - EXCLUSIVE

Monday 07th January 2008

www.kentishfootball.co.uk brings you previews of all four Cup games involving Kent sides on Tuesday night, speaking to Tommy Warrilow (Tonbridge Angels), Jim Ward (Ramsgate), Jason Lillis (Herne Bay) and Hythe Town boss Paul Fisk.

Tommy Warrilow could do without Tuesday night’s Ryman League Cup third round home tie against Horsham YMCA, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Tonbridge Angels manager revealed that he’s only got ELEVEN first team players available for Saturday’s home FA Carlsberg Trophy showdown against their rivals AFC Wimbledon – and prays that his players come through Tuesday night’s game unscathed.

“I’ve got eleven players Saturday so I’ve really got to be careful with my team selection,” the former Horsham assistant manager said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk on the eve of the game at the Betterview Longmead Stadium.

“I’ve lost four players who are cup-tied – Akwasi Edusei, Luke Fontana, Carl Rook and John Westcott – and three of them need games.

“Luke’s been out injured for a while so he needs some games. Rook’s only had a couple of games prior to coming to us so he’s not had a great deal of football in the last month so he and Akwasi need more games, but I can’t use them tomorrow night.

“So I’ve got to go with some of the players I don’t want to and on the bench will be some of the reserve team players. I’m sure they’ll be used when the game goes on.”

But unlike some Premier League managers, despite his team selection headache ahead of Saturday’s massive FA Trophy clash, Warrilow will field a strong side against the Ryman League Division One South strugglers tomorrow.

“I’ve got no choice!” he said. “I’m not going to flood it with all reserve team players.

“We’ll treat the cup, like all the cups, with respect (but) I’m in a no-win situation because I haven’t got any players to choose from.

“I’ve got to go with the majority of the first team but I’ve got two suspended Saturday – Robbie Kember and Scott Kinch.

“I can give them 90 minutes Tuesday and try and shuffle (the side) around if the game gets going.

“I don’t want to go out of the cup. I go and try to win every game, but I’m not stupid enough to play players if I can rest them.

“I will rest what I can, the two players coming in are more than adequate enough in the middle, because they won’t be playing Saturday.”

Warrilow revealed that he could rest Tommy Tyne and Anthony Storey against Horsham YMCA, and come in fit and raring to go for Kember and Kinch against a Wimbledon side that’s unbeaten in seven games (winning their last four).

Hamid Barr, who scored THAT goal that knocked giants Oxford United out of the FA Trophy in the last round, is also expected to feature, as is Richard Harris.

But Warrilow insists he’s not going to treat their Ryman League Cup opponents lightly.

“Horsham went out at Walton Casuals in this,” he warned.

And he added: “In the FA Cup games Saturday, they (Premier League managers) all messed about with their teams and they got knocked out.

“It’s a shame because it’s our biggest Cup competition and to treat it like that it’s a shame.

“Numbers dictate on Saturday what I can do tomorrow night to try to minimise any knocks.”

Warrilow is SIX players short against AFC Wimbledon but he’s hoping to bring in one player, from a Blue Square Premier club, who is not FA Trophy tied, on loan.

“I’ve been speaking to a lot of managers about loan signings and I hope one will be there tomorrow,” he revealed.

“That will ease the load a little bit and by the end of the week I should know about two targets I’ve been trying to get for the last week.

“We’ll know by the end of the week if there coming in our not.”

Players cup-tied for Saturday’s FA Trophy tie against AFC Wimbledon:
Akwasei Edusei (East Thurrock United), John Westcott (Horsham), Carl Rook (Horsham) and Luke Fontana (Carshalton Athletic).

At least Jon Main, AFC Wimbledon's record signing, having left Tonbridge last November, is also cup-tied.

Players suspended:
Robbie Kember and Scott Kinch

UPDATE:
Ebbsfleet United have confirmed that defender Phil Starkey, 20, has joined Tonbridge Angels on a month's loan.

The former Crystal Palace youngster made only two appearances for the Fleet, having joined the Stonebridge Road club in August 2007.

Starkey's preferred position is on the right side of defence, but he can also play across the back four or in midfield.

Jim Ward takes his Ramsgate side to rivals AFC Hornchurch tomorrow night for a place in the semi-finals of the Ryman League Cup up for grabs.

The Rams are going to give strikers Ryan Hirooka, 17, and Stuart King, 19, a start at Bridge Avenue.

And Ward, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, said: “Both of them came on Saturday for the last 40 minutes and both played very well.

“The policy at Ramsgate is if you play well you don’t get dropped.”

Staines Town completed the double over the Rams on Saturday, and Ward said: “They’re a good side. Staines will be top three they will. We got beat 2-0, other days the penalties wouldn’t have gone against us.”

But Ward wants to progress into the semi-finals of the League Cup.

“We’re playing for a game in the semi-finals so it means a lot,” he said.

“We’ll go there and be positive (but) at the end of the day it’s a cup game and we want to stay in the cup.”

There are also two Kent League Cup ties taking place as the group stages come to a climax.

Herne Bay need to beat Tunbridge Wells at Winch’s Field to book their place in the last eight, and a trip to Croydon, whilst Beckenham Town and Hythe Town play out their last group game having already qualified.

“The job has to be done and done right. We’ve got to play to our best ability and get the right result,” said Herne Bay manager Jason Lillis, when speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We have to go and make sure we win. We haven’t lost in this yet.”

Lillis, like most other managers, would like the Kent League Cup competition revamped.

"I’m not a lover of the groups to be fair,” he said. “The only way I’d be more happy is if the games were played on a Saturday and not midweek.

“Sometimes it’s hard for the boys going to work but with the lack of teams in our league I’m surprised they can’t fit the fixtures in.”

Lillis revealed that he has a full strength side to choose from.

Meanwhile, Hythe Town, with a 100% record in this competition, travel to Eden Park Avenue to play a Beckenham Town side that will travel to Erith & Belvedere in the quarter-finals.

Hythe manager Paul Fisk is expected to hand Marcus Hodges and Pat Kingwell, who arrived from Kent County League outfit Bromley Green before Christmas, their first starts for the club at Eden Park Avenue.

“We will have a mixture of first and reserve team players,” Fisk revealed EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We will be using the game to have a look at and give a chance to a few players.”

He added: “We are happy to have qualified and are looking forward to playing the holders Thamesmead, at home, in the next round.”

Visit club websites:

www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk & www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/forum

www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk

www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk

www.hythetownfc.co.uk

www.hernebayfc.net

www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk