Tonbridge Angels 1-0 Oxford United - Best day in club's history - Warrilow

The heroic Warrilow warriors produced a famous giant killing act as they dumped full-time Blue Square Premier outfit Oxford United out of the FA Carlsberg Trophy at a passion filled Betterview Longmead Stadium.

Warrilow’s warriors were immense throughout Saturday’s goal-less draw at the 12,500 all-seater Kassam Stadium - but they grew in stature as they took advantage of their home comforts throughout this first round replay.

They can now look forward to another lucrative home tie, this time against their Ryman Premier League rivals AFC Wimbledon in the second round on 12^th January 2008.

Oxford United, a cub that were playing the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the 1980’s, lacked fight.

They must now be at their lowest ebb in their history, especially as only 57 fans bothered to make the two-hour trip to watch their players’ come off second best.

Remember that Tonbridge Angels were without five players and only had 12 recognised first-team players at their disposal.

Winger John Westcott (Horsham) and strikers Akwasi Edusei (East Thurrock United) and Carl Rook (Horsham) were all cup-tied, having already played in this competition.

And versatile skipper Ray Powell and central midfielder Anthony Storey sat out through suspension.

Victory was more the sweeter as the Angels finished the game with just nine players on the pitch, as midfielder Scott Kinch and hero Hamid Barr both saw red inside stoppage time, with their team-mates hanging on.

But Tonbridge Angels’ grit, pride and determination was worth it in the end, as Barr’s twelve and most vital goal of the season sealed victory on the half-hour mark.

Barr, who had struck the foot of the left-post at the Kassam Stadium from 20-yards in the last fifteen minutes on Saturday, went one better with a sweet finish.

Winger Kirk Watts started the move on the right-hand side, playing the ball to Barr, who rolled the ball to his strike partner, Richard Harris.

Harris then flicked the ball into Barr’s path and the former Fisher Athletic striker drilled his shot into the bottom right-hand corner with the outside of his right boot from the edge of the penalty area.



PURE CLASS:  Hamid Barr (blue shirt on right) scores with the outside of his right boot as Tonbridge Angels knock Oxford United out of the FA Carlsberg Trophy
Photographs courtesy of David Couldridge - www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/gallery


Oxford United had earlier created the game’s first chance after seven minutes, following their second corner.

Alex Jeannin’s left-footed corner found Luke Foster at the far post but he could only direct his downward header past the near post.

Tonbridge Angels then squandered a couple of good chances, with goalkeeper Sam Worrell, 18, making his debut, not being tested.

Barr latched onto Harris’ flick, but his right-footed lob from twenty-yards was comfortably saved by the rookie goalkeeper, in for the suspended Billy Turley.

And Watts’ cut inside and whipped in a left-footed cross from the right-flank, but Harris’ towering header was comfortably plucked out of the air by Worrell.

But the passionate Tonbridge Angels supporters’ were celebrating the only goal of the game, timed at 29 minutes and 21 seconds.

But within two minutes, Oxford United striker Ashley Barnes went close when his shot from sixteen yards dipped just over Matt Reed’s crossbar, taking a deflection.

And at the other end, Scottish winger Fraser Logan curled a shot past the post, following a move involving Watts and Kinch.

It took almost 37 minutes for Oxford United to test Reed, but the goalkeeper got his body fully behind Phil Trainer’s left-footed drive from 25-yards.

But Tonbridge Angels were forced to soak up plenty of pressure during the second half.

Reed, and his heroic back four of Robbie Kember, John Beales, James Donovan and Matt Lovell, were equal to everything that was thrown at them - on a night when the underdog succeeded.

After an early second half scare, Reed pulled off a breathtaking save to prevent Eddie Hutchinson scoring with a header following a corner, as the follow up was blazed over the crossbar.

Hutchinson then met Jeannin’s cross with a diving header, which flew agonisingly past the post.

The galvanised Reed then made a vital save after 56 minutes when he advanced to block a shot from Yemi Odubade, after the substitute burst through the Angels rock solid back-line for the first time.

Odubade chipped in a cross towards the far post but fellow substitute Alex Fisher could only glance his header wide.

Tonbridge were unable to keep possession of the ball, as attack after attack came their way.

But the Kent heroes almost grabbed a crucial second with nine minutes left.

Barr broke free and with the home crowd urging him on to glory, the advancing Worrell saved the 12-yard shot with his legs, as the home side had to endure more tension.

The writing was on the wall for Oxford United when Trainer stroked his shot past the near post with four minutes remaining, as Kinch directed his header to the unmarked midfielder.

But gallant Tonbridge Angels blotted their copybook as Kinch and Barr were both sent off for second yellows inside stoppage time.

Kinch was harshly red carded by Chichester referee Mr David Phillips for dissent, disputing the fact that he had his shirt pulled as the Angels were about to defend a throw into their penalty box.

And Barr saw red when he latched onto a ball over the top, but was caught offside, and continued into the penalty area, taking the ball around Worrell, which prevented the teenager gathering the ball.

Warrilow wasn’t happy losing two players inside stoppage time.

Speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, he said: “There was a bit of shirt pulling going on in the box and Kinchy said to the ref “he’s pulling his shirt” and the ref thought he was swearing at the ref.

“His booked him in the first half. He could have just had a word with him but he’s sent him off.

“The same with Hamid. Alright, Hamid went around the goalie but again a little bit of common sense.

“The lad’s on a yellow, red cards should be dished out in my opinion for crude tackles or anyone who really goes over the top with verbal.

“If you’ve got two good tackles in and they’re wrong, then fair enough, but the two tonight, they’re really harsh.

“I am so pleased, so delighted for all the lads but unfortunately the ending sort of took the icing off for us a little bit.”

But despite those two set-backs, and six minutes and one second of agonising stoppage time, the fallen giants failed to find the target.

If they did, then the nine brave hearts would have easily capitulated, but they were able to celebrate a fully deserved victory, as the best side over the two games, came out on top.

“Second half, it was like to Alamo back there,” admitted a delighted Warrilow afterwards.

“The lads’ were outstanding again, they’re out on their feet but I’ve got to mention I haven’t seen a referee like that in my thirty years of football!

“I thought he was an absolute disgrace tonight and I don’t mind going on record saying that.”

But let’s not take anything away from Tonbridge Angels and these two performances and results against fallen giants Oxford United.

“We’re ending up talking about the referee because he was that bad but I mean that is a magnificent result,” said Warrilow.

“Oxford United are a massive club, with all the set-up and the stigma and we’ve got another clean sheet tonight, a clean sheet on Saturday.

“We’ve got another nice draw at home to AFC Wimbledon, which is on a Saturday, and hopefully it will be a sell-out down here.

“But I think the result will probably sink in more tomorrow.

“It’s a massive, massive result and hopefully we can just take it on to Saturday when we’ve got another big game away at Staines.”

Warrilow knew his warriors had nothing to fear, following Saturday’s game.

Oxford United have now scored only two goals in their last seven games.

“I thought, if anything, Saturday’s performance put us in better stead for tonight because we had nothing to fear,” said the 43-year-old.

“In the first half (tonight) we played some good stuff, we got at them, Hamid finished his goal off, we had a couple of chances.

“We said before we’re not going to get our own way against teams like this.

“They’re a massive club, they’re two league’s above us so we’re not going to get our own way. We have to deal with that.

“Second half we knew they would come at us - we managed to deal with that.”

“I’m absolutely delighted. Like I say I think the lads aren’t in shock, we’re a little bit upset, the disciplinary record at the club before I came here, was mentioned and we had four bookings and two reds tonight in a game that didn’t warrant that.

“I think it spoilt the night a little bit for a lot of us. We’ve lost a couple of players for big games further down the line.

“They’re a great club, I’m not disrespecting Oxford but I thought over the two games we can’t just turn round and say we were lucky. I thought we deserved the win.

“I’m absolutely delighted with the result. One-nil against Oxford United, it’s a massive result. I don’t think anyone could envisage that could happen.

“We’ve had two clean sheets against them, which is again a tick in the box because we’ve got quite a young back four there.”

Warrilow praised the Barmy-Army for their excellent support over the two games.

“I’m obviously delighted for all the supporters that came out tonight and everyone connected with the club because we’ve got another massive game against Wimbledon here”, he said.

“They’re different grade. They was brilliant Saturday and again tonight, absolutely brilliant for us.

“I just hope they all come to Staines and the next home game. All we want are the crowds to keep coming up. We try to play football down here, which the people of Tonbridge want to see and hopefully start moving up the league as well.”

Warrilow was delighted that Barr produced the goods when it mattered most.

He said: “Hamid is one of those players. He’s so gifted, drives you mad with some things he does but you’ve got to allow for something like that.

“He’s got that little bit of magic, like the goal, he took his goal well.

“He’s got great feet on him, he’s a very intelligent footballer.”

“Everyone’s delighted but the gloss was taken off but everyone knows I don’t have to say how pleased I am with everyone.

“I am deep down delighted with the result and the effort, performance from the whole team.

“There’s no getting away from that but tomorrow when I wake up the reality will kick in that we’ve just beaten Oxford United here one-nil, as well as drawing at their place."

And the one thing that all Tonbridge Angels fans' would like to read -

“It will probably go down hopefully as one of the best days down here in the club’s history, result wise.”

Tonbridge Angels: Matt Reed, Robbie Kember, Matt Lovell, Scott Kinch, John Beales, James Donovan, Kirk Watts, Tommy Tyne, Hamid Barr, Richard Harris, Fraser Logan.
Subs: Kurt Husnu, Ashley Dann, Dan Bowles, Charlie Sharman, Matt Crane.

Goal: Hamid Barr 30

Booked: Scott Kinch 45, Richard Harris 59, Hamid Barr 72, Kirk Watts 90

Sent Off: Scott Kinch 90, Hamid Barr 90

Oxford United: Sam Worrell, James Clarke, Barry Quinn, Luke Foter, Alex Jeannin, Carl Pettefer (Matt Day 86), Eddie Hutchinson, Phil Trainer, Garry Twigg (Alex Fisher 63), Rob Duffy, Ashley Barnes (Yemi Odubade 45).
Subs: Ben Weedon, Michael Corcoran.

Booked: Barry Quinn 24, Rob Duffy 90

Attendance: 642
Referee: Mr David Phillips (Chichester, West Sussex)
Assistants: Mr Graham Atkins (Southend, Essex) & Mr Lloyd Rendall (Worthing, West Sussex)
Fourth Official: Mr Nigel Lugg (Chipstead, Surrey)

Photographs courtesy of David Couldridge - www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/gallery