TONBRIDGE ANGELS 0-4 AFC WIMBLEDON - Wilfort says sorry for his costly double blunder

TONBRIDGE ANGELS 0-4 AFC WIMBLEDON
FA Carlsberg Trophy Second Round
Saturday 12^th January 2008
Stephen McCartney reports from Betterview Longmead Stadium

TWO DEFENSIVE blunders from debutant John Wilfort put paid to Tonbridge Angels’ FA Trophy dream - in front of the west Kent club’s largest ever attendance.

A crowd of 2,281 packed into the Betterview Longmead Stadium and the Angels contingent were hoping that their side could emulate their two heroic displays that saw them knock out Blue Square Premier giants - and former Football League outfit - Oxford United in the last round.

But their players’ disappointing display ensured that their big-spending Ryman Premier League rivals, on an eight game unbeaten run going into this game, sealed a deserved place in the last sixteen.

Going a goal down inside the opening thirteen minutes was the worst possible start for the Angels - as AFC Wimbledon striker Daniel Webb scored his seventh goal of the season - and sadly it went downhill after that.

Wilfort, 29, signed from Blue Square South outfit Welling United just two days ago, had a nightmare, gifting Mark De Bolla - who also had a penalty saved by Matt Reed - two goals.

At 3-0 down early in the second half, the mountain grew higher for Tonbridge when midfielder Tommy Tyne was shown a straight red card for elbowing Jason Goodliffe and when substitute Richard Jolly made it four at the death there was an air of despondency.

The game was a doubt last night as the wet conditions made the pitch unplayable but the sunny conditions this morning enabled the game to go ahead following an early morning pitch inspection, although the pitch cut up during the game.

And the kick-off was delayed for fifteen minutes whilst fans filed through the turnstiles, breaking the club’s previous record, which was set just two years ago when 1,853 watched the Ryman League Division One South play-off win over Kentish rivals Dover Athletic.

Tonbridge Angels manager Tommy Warrilow went into today’s game without six players. Big-money signing, striker Carl Rook and winger John Westcott had played in this competition for Horsham and Akwasi Edusei (East Thurrock United) and Luke Fontana (Carshalton Athletic) were also cup-tied and Robbie Kember and their rock in midfield, Scott Kinch were suspended.

Wilfort’s inclusion meant James Donovan, whose got a good partnership with John Beales at the heart of defence, was dropped to the bench as the decision to play Wilfort back-fired.

Another signing, the much-travelled striker, Micky Collins, 36, watched the game from the bench, having signed from Erith Town on the same night as Wilfort.

However, the pace of Tony Finn and Steve Ferguson caused the Tonbridge defence problems throughout and Ferguson curled a shot just past the far post with the outside of his boot inside the opening three minutes.

But their first real chance was to follow when Mark Beard fired into Reed’s grateful arms following Ferguson’s low centre.

AFC Wimbledon, however, broke the deadlock with 12 minutes and 43 seconds on the clock, courtesy of Webb’s stunning strike.

The Kent side had a couple of chances to clear the ball from inside their penalty area but Webb lashed a left-footed shot that arrowed into the top-left hand corner to the delight of the visiting fans’ at the other end of the pitch.

Finn’s first chance, however, arrived in the 21^st minute when his right-footed drive flashed agonisingly past the foot of the left-post.

Whilst the visitors’ were utilising the pair’s pace, Tonbridge Angels failed to get the ball to their own wing wizard Kirk Watts.

That was until the 25^th minute when he picked up a low diagonal pass from Fraser Logan - making his 100^th start for the Angels.

Watts burst down the left-flank and crossed the ball with his left-foot and this was met by a towering header from Logan - straight into the arms of Lee Butcher, AFC Wimbledon’s teenage goalkeeper on a month’s loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

Another whipped in cross from Watts was met by Ray Powell, but good defending at the near-post snuffed out the chance.

But Tonbridge Angels were given a lifeline in the 37^th minute - but later failed to take it.

Right-back Phil Starkey, whose on loan from Blue Square Premier outfit Ebbsfleet United, was guilty of handling Jake Leberl’s shot.

But Reed made a crucial save - at the time - diving to his left - to prevent De Bolla’s right-footed penalty finding the bottom right-hand corner.

“We’ve had Wimbledon watched and they had a penalty the other week,” said Angels boss Tommy Warrilow, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We knew which way it was going (towards the bottom right-hand corner), luckily he kept his decision making the same and Reed’s got down and parried it away.

“That’s when we think “brilliant!” Let’s move on from this and then we go and let one in bang on half-time.”

Anthony Howard’s shot from the right-hand side flashed agonisingly past the far post before Wilfort’s first blunder proved costly.

Wilfort, whose recently played County League football for Redhill and Erith Town, was guilty of a miss-kick that you’ll see regularly at Sunday League level.

Following his mistake thirty yards from goal, De Bolla latched onto the pass and clinically rolled the ball past the advancing Reed and into the corner of an empty net - 48 seconds before referee Mr Ian Crouch blew the half-time whistle.

Devastated Warrilow fumed about his side’s defensive frailties - with Wilfort the main culprit.

“The first goal we had a chance to clear a cross that came in. I thought we could have dealt with that, then we had another chance to clear it and we didn’t and then bang! It’s one-nil,” said the former Horsham assistant manager.

“Then they get a penalty and we save it and a stupid goal bang on half-time - two-nil so we’re always chasing.

“Even the third one, another defensive mistake, poor old John, he’s come in today on his debut and he’s thrown away two goals.

“He’s devastated, he’s come in (to the dressing room after the game) and apologised.

“It look’s like he might have fractured his cheekbone as well in one of the challenges that he’s gone in so that sort’s of sums his day up.

“Obviously what we’re saw today is not what he is about and he’s devastated but he’s a strong character and hopefully he’ll bounce back from that.”

Despite being 2-0 down, there was hope that Tonbridge could claw themselves back into the game. They did when the two sides met in the league on this ground in November to earn a 2-2 draw in Warrilow’s third game in charge.

Powell teed up Logan, whose hooked left-footed half-volley from the edge of the penalty box sailed just over Butcher’s crossbar inside the first six minutes of the second half.

And at the other end Reed was alert to pluck Webb’s towering header out of the air, following another teasing cross from the left by Finn.

Tonbridge Angels were poor, and this was summed up in the 55^th minute.

Awarded a free-kick on the right-hand side of the penalty area some 25-yards from goal, everyone was expecting a shot on goal from free-kick specialist Anthony Storey.

But the former Eastbourne Borough midfielder drilled the ball to Tyne just inside the penalty area and the visiting defence cleared their lines as the ball got stuck underneath his feet.

Wilfort’s second blunder arrived early in the second half, as De Bolla drilled home his ninth goal of the season with ten minutes and 19 seconds on the clock.

Wilfort directed his header towards Reed but this failed miserably to find his team-mate and De Bolla latched onto the ball before drilling an angled right-footed shot inside the bottom left-hand corner.

And when target-man Richard Harris was substituted by Hamid Barr in the 62^nd minute, the hero of the last round was supposed to partner Tyne up front.

But those plans were thrown away inside a minute when former Dover Athletic player Tyne was shown a straight red card for an incident on Jason Goodliffe.

“The lads got hold of Tommy, Tommy’s swung his arm round, he has caught the fella but he’s not smashed his elbow into his face,” explained Warrilow, who had an excellent view of the incident.

“Tommy’s put his forearm into the blokes head, he didn’t hurt him, that’s experience for you.

“We keep telling our boys when people push you just go over because (when) you raise your hands you go off.

“Tommy’s done that and he’s paid the price for it so I’m a bit disappointed with it but at the same time they’re the rules and I’ve got no arguments about it.”

And from that moment AFC Wimbledon created numerous chances to add to their tally, their best when Ferguson’s left-footed shot was tipped over by Reed, as all interest in the game from a Kent perspective ended.

That came almost immediately after Tonbridge Angels best chance of the entire game as they came within inches of scoring a consolation.

Barr, who scored THAT goal against Oxford United, exchanged passes with Powell and his right-footed shot flashed agonisingly past the foot of the right-hand post.

Dons substitute Jolly added insult to injury when he stroked the ball in off the foot of the far-post inside stoppage time - in fact 55 seconds before the final whistle by scoring the fourth goal - a statistic that doesn’t look good in the national newspapers tomorrow.

But having eliminated Harrow Borough, East Thurrock United and Burnham in the qualifying stages, and who could forget those two epic games with Oxford United, at least the Angels have had an extended run in the competition - reaching the last 32 for the very first time in their history.

And Warrilow said: “Four-nil sounds like a (thrashing) but I felt three of the four goals could have been prevented.

“We’ve enjoyed (the run), we should have gone out in the last round according to everyone, at Oxford.

“The most important thing in the FA Trophy, it’s like the FA Cup, you try to stay in it as long as you can and earn as much money as you can.

“I don’t like losing any game, I’m not happy that we’ve lost 4-0, but there was over two thousand people there, the club has earned some money.”

Tonbridge Angels: Matt Reed, Phil Starkey, Matt Lovell, Tommy Tyne, John Beales, John Wilfort, Richard Harris (Hamid Barr 62), Anthony Storey, Ray Powell, Fraser Logan, Kirk Watts.
Subs: James Donovan, Micky Collins, Matt Newman, Charlie Sharman.

Booked: Phil Starkey 36, Anthony Storey 87

Sent Off: Tommy Tyne 63

AFC Wimbledon: Lee Butler, Will Salmon, Michael Haswell, Mark Beard (Sam Hatton 72), Jason Goodliffe (Steve Gilbert 79), Anthony Howard, Steve Ferguson, Jake Leberl, Daniel Webb, Mark De Bolla (Richard Jolly 89), Tony Finn.
Subs: Richard Jolly, Chris Hussey, Elliott Ransom.

Goals: Daniel Webb 13, Mark De Bolla 45, 56, Richard Jolly 90

Booked: Michael Haswell 35, Mark Beard 67, Will Salmon 82

Attendance: 2,281
Referee: Mr Ian Crouch (New Eltham)
Assistants: Mr Graham Thorley (Harrow, Middlesex) & Mr Adrian Oldershaw (Brentwood, Essex)
Fourth Official: Mr Bernard Morss (Ongar, Essex)