Tonbridge Angels 0-1 Sutton United - There's still everything to play for, says Tommy Warrilow

Saturday 19th February 2011

TONBRIDGE ANGELS 0-1 SUTTON UNITED
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 19th February 2011
Mike Green reports from Longmead Stadium

A solitary goal from former Gillingham striker Leroy Griffiths ten minutes into the second half condemned the Tonbridge Angels to their first home League defeat since the end of September.

Manager Tommy Warrilow was left a frustrated man as for long periods as his side more than matched Ryman Premier leaders Sutton United – OK Sutton dominated for spells in both halves – but failed to gain a point that their efforts deserved.

Twice in the first ten minutes the Angels were inches away from taking the lead.

After only eight minutes Jay May sprinted down the inside right channel, before rounding Sutton keeper Kevin Scriven outside the box, but sadly for the Angels there was no one wearing a blue shirt to get on the end of the cross.

The Angels went even closer a couple of minutes later. Frannie Collin left three defenders in his wake before delivering an excellent cross that was met by May’s header which was deflected for a corner by Scriven’s right thigh as the keeper dived the wrong way.

Warrilow conceded, “I’m looking at our chances and we’ve had a lot more than them today and we haven’t taken one.

“I’m not going to be negative tonight – yes we’ve lost and now we’ve got to bounce back and win at Hastings on Tuesday night. There’s still 42 points to play for – last season we didn’t start our great run ‘til March. This year we’re on a good run – OK we’ve had a couple of losses but our performances are improving. If there was anyone here today and said that we didn’t give our all then sorry you’re watching a different game to me!

“Even if we’d have won today, I wouldn’t have been shouting from the roof tops. Yes. It’s great but look at Hendon in the last week. They lost to Maidstone last Saturday then beat this lot (Sutton) and have been thumped 8-1 today (at Lowestoft) and that’s what this league can do.

“All that I want to focus on is us – I seriously don’t care what teams around us do, every game that we play I want to go out and win. If we go out like that every week, I’ll be delighted.”

Almost as if this stung the leaders into life, Angels keeper Lee Worgan was at his magnificent best to first beat out Kennedy Adogi’s stunning strike before the keeper recovered superbly to block Craig Dundas’ follow up.

As the leaders stepped up the pace, top scorer Bradley Wood Garness raced clear and drove the ball across the face of goal only again for Worgan to produce a stunning low save to tip the ball around the post.

On 25 minutes, Collin looking suspiciously offside was released by a super ball from Jon Beales, and made room for himself to curl the ball round Scriven only for the ball to rebound off of the left post and the rebound fell behind the onrushing Ade Olorunda.

That caused a bizarre incident, as Sutton boss Paul Doswell left his seat in the stand to head for the Sutton bench.

On the way to the bench, the U’s manager said something to assistant Baker which offended the official, who promptly called it to the attention to referee Hatzidakis, and the Bromley official ordered Doswell from his new seat less than 180 seconds after he sat down.

The first half ended with Collin stinging Scriven’s right glove with a whipped in free kick as the opening 45 minutes saw honours even.

The second period began in a similar fashion. Dundass was denied as his drive cannoned away to safety off of Worgan’s knees, whilst at the other end Olorunda saw a flying header flash wide from Danny Walder’s cross.

The games only goal arrived ten minutes into the half, when the Angles defence failed to clear – although Beales did appear to have been impeded in the build up – and Griffiths was on hand to drive the ball beyond Worgan and into the net.

Within a minute the former Gillingham striker should have made it two as he raced clear into the box and seemed to hesitate before driving in a low shot which Worgan did well to hold onto at the base of his left post. On 68 minutes, Griffiths was denied again, this time by a sensational block from Lee Browning as the scorer had disposed Worgan wide on the left.

The Angels to their eternal credit gave their best efforts as they tried to level in the closing stages.

Collin’s free kick on 87 minutes saw Scriven pull off a brilliant full length save, before Lewis Taylor did force the ball past the Sutton keeper only for the official to disallow the goal. In stoppage time, Browning and Collin combined brilliantly to set Sonny Miles up for a drive that whistled past the right post.

At the final whistle, the visiting fans in Longmead’s biggest gate of the season celebrated as though they won the Premier Division itself. Yes, Sutton are clear at the top, but League Champions? Sorry not on this display!

Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Danny Walder (Jake Beecroft 82), Sonny Miles, Lewis Taylor, Ben Judge, Jon Beales, Lee Browning, Ade Olorunda, Jay May (Adrian Stone 66), Frannie Collin, Fraser Logan.

Subs: Scott Kinch, Chris Piper, Jon Heath

Booked: Danny Walder 71

Sutton United: Kevin Scriven, Simon Downer (Fela Deilonishe 76), Darren Ebbsworth, Karl Murray, Karim El Salahi, Sam Page, Bradley Wood Garness (Tom Davis 73), Tom Davis (Tom Kavangh 66), Craig Dundass, Kennedy Adogi, Leroy Griffiths.

Subs: Steve McKimm, Wayne Shaw

Goal: Leroy Griffiths 55

Booked: Karim El Salahi 63

Attendance: 744

Referee: Mr Constantine Hatzadakis (Bromley)

Assistants: Mr Karl May (Gillingham) & Mr Nicholas Baker (Heathfield, East Sussex)