Tonbridge Angels 2-1 Eastleigh - This is a massive three points for us tonight, says Tommy Warrilow

TONBRIDGE ANGELS  2-1  EASTLEIGH
Skrill South
Monday 17^th February 2014
Stephen McCartney reports from Longmead Stadium

TONBRIDGE ANGELS manager Tommy Warrilow says he’s going to enjoy his side’s shock win over Eastleigh.

The Angels leapfrogged over Maidenhead United to claw themselves out of the Skrill (Conference) South relegation zone with 25 points from 22 games after putting in a resilient shift against their title-chasing full-time opponents.

League leaders Bromley suffered a shock 3-2 away defeat to bottom side Dorchester Town at the weekend and Eastleigh arrived at Longmead Stadium eleven points adrift of Mark Goldberg’s side, with four games in hand.

But Tonbridge Angels stunned Eastleigh by taking a 2-0 lead at the break, courtesy of striker Michael Bakare, 27, and midfielder Mark Lovell, 30.

Eastleigh pulled a goal back early in the second half through Welshman Stuart Fleetwood, 27, but an excellent goalkeeping performance from Clark Masters, 26, ensured Tonbridge Angels held on to complete the double over Richard Hill’s side.

But Warrilow saw this result coming, despite their position in the bottom three.

He said: “It’s not a hindsight thing. I did say to the boys before the game I felt we have been playing well in the last six games. The results have been not nice for us, I suppose is the easiest way to put it.  We’ve deserved more out of the games.

“I said to the boys if you keep playing like that the results will come.

“Tonight, listen, they’re a fantastic side aren’t they?  They’re fit, they’re full-time and you expected it but I felt first half we could’ve gone in more than two up.

“All the time it’s 2-0 the next goal’s important and we knew they’d come at us and I can’t ask for much more from all of my lads tonight.

“I thought they were all outstanding with their work-rate and their attitude towards it and I’m just pleased that they’ve got a nice three points.”

Tonbridge Angels were without five players with goalkeeper Lewis Carey (holiday), central defender Sonny Miles (sick), central midfielder Lee Browning (suspended) and wingers Nathan Green (sick) and Ryan Watts (ankle) all missing.

Warrilow said: “My phone went twice today.  I wrote two teams out.  That’s five players that have come out today but all the boys that have gone in there have done themselves no harm at all.” 

Eastleigh sense Tonbridge Angels were vulnerable with so many players out and pressed for an early opening.

Right-back Will Evans whipped in a cross which was brought down by impressive striker Ben Wright before he stroked his right-footed half-volley just wide of the far post from fifteen yards after only 105 seconds.

Masters made his first brilliant save shortly afterwards when he dived high to his left to push away Wright’s left-footed curler on the turn from fifteen-yards, which was destined for the far corner.

Wright, who seemed to be here, there and everywhere, sent a right-footed free-kick over the wall and narrowly past the left-hand post from 35-yards.

Tonbridge Angels’ opening chance came on the break inside eight minutes when Lovell broke through the middle before sweeping the ball out wide for overlapping right-back Chris Piper to drill a first-time shot flashing agonisingly wide of the near post from 25-yards.

Tonbridge Angels stunned Eastleigh by taking the lead against the run of play with 9 minutes and 3 seconds on the clock.

Eastleigh were hit by a free-flowing sweeping move, which saw Piper play a low pass to Nathaniel Pinney, who passed to Tom Collins, who cut the ball across the penalty area for Bakare to turn his man to slide his left-footed shot past the flat-footed Ross Flitney into the bottom right-hand corner from 12-yards.

Warrilow said: “It was everyone, great football!  I can’t stop the lads from playing like that! That’s what you’re trying to do.  The pitch was in good condition and I thought we knocked it about well.”

The Angels boss was full of praise for former Dover Athletic striker Bakare.

He said: “He’s put in a shift. Michael’s a threat.  I didn’t want to take him out of the middle but we just felt second half we had to plug those wide areas where they were getting in so we sacrificed Phillip Appiah, whose had his first game for a while, done ok, he done well.  We had to plug the holes and hit them on the counter attacks, which we did.  Unfortunately we didn’t take a couple of the chances.”

Eastleigh were awarded a fortuitous free-kick when Henry Muggeridge was penalised and Wright smashed his right-footed free-kick into the wall and the ball came out to Jamie Collins, who clipped his left-footed shot straight down Masters’ throat from the edge of the penalty area on the right hand side.

Eastleigh continued to dominate, but their shooting on the night was woeful for a full-time outfit.

Wright penetrated the Tonbridge defence and released Jai Reason, the Eastleigh striker sending his right-footed chip over the crossbar from 20-yards.

Tonbridge Angels produced another sweeping move, but a correct offside flag denied the Kent side a second goal in the 24^th minute.

Lovell, Bakare and David Ijaha linked up well in midfield and the ball was played out to Muggeridge down the left.  The left-back cut inside and played the ball to Bakare, who played in Pinney, who was in an offside position by the time he slotted his shot into the bottom left-hand corner from eight-yards.

Warrilow gave the former Crystal Palace striker a boost when he said: “Pins has been working hard.  Nathan will be the first to admit he did put his feet up a little bit and obviously going away (on loan to Dulwich Hamlet) and not getting a game has hurt him.

“He’s a handful on his day and today he’s linked up play and his strength was a real handful.

“He’s a good lad.  He’s not been a bad egg. He’s been really honest with me and I’ve been honest with him. That’s how I am with all the players.

“That’s done him no harm tonight. It was a good blow for him and now we’ve got to get more out of him and the forwards that look a threat.”

But Tonbridge Angels doubled their lead ten minutes before the break, through Lovell’s sixth-goal of the season.

Ijaha swept the ball out wide to Muggeridge, who sped towards the by-line before cutting the ball towards the near post for Lovell to sweep his left-footed shot into the bottom corner from eight-yards.

“He’s scored again, that’s what Lovers is about,” said Warrilow.

“He’s got a very, very good footballing brain, gets in the right areas, times his runs well and again he just gets on with his job. I think he’s an eight-out-of-ten every week. He’s been fantastic for me.”

Tonbridge Angels almost raced into a 3-0 lead before the break following yet another sweeping move on the break when Ijaha played in Muggeridge, who sent his shot straight at former Dover Athletic stopper Flitney when well placed.

Warrilow added: “I just felt if we could’ve got that third one to give you that little cushion because we knew they’d come at us. We knew they’d throw caution to the wind and they’re a good, organised side that could do that to teams.”

However, the second half turned out to be a different affair as Eastleigh kept their hosts on the back foot with long periods of dominance where Tonbridge failed to keep hold of the ball.

Eastleigh pulled a goal back with three minutes and 45 seconds on the clock through Fleetwood.

The ball came out to left-back Dan Spence, who rode Chris Piper’s sliding tackle to reach the by-line before whipping in a cross which flashed through a crowd of players and Fleetwood took a touch to compose himself before lashing his right-footed shot into the roof of the net from fifteen-yards.

Warrilow added: “It was a walk-in as well. That old habit. The ball’s going out wide and we’re not picking up the men in the box but it’s just important not to panic.”

Eastleigh produced wave-after-wave of attacks and Tonbridge Angels were hanging on for the rest of the half.

Warrilow said: “We had a few attacks as well, a few counter attacks. We knew it’s about the end product. It was like that at their place. We were down to ten-men after one minute and they had wave-after-wave but we defended.  Look at tonight. We put our bodies on the line, heading the ball. We’ve defended well tonight.”

Reason released Jamie Collins, who played the ball inside to Glen Southam, whose right-footed drive deflected wide of the left-hand post from 20-yards.  The ball deflected off inspirational skipper Gary Elphick, who played alongside Jon Heath at the heart of defence.

Spence then cut inside two Tonbridge players to crack a right-footed drive into Masters’ body from 25-yards.

But Tonbridge Angels also created chances to increase their lead with 20 minutes remaining.

A sliced clearance from Eastleigh’s central defender Chris Todd sent Tom Collins through on goal, who drilled a low right-footed shot towards goal from sixteen-yards, which Flitney made a comfortable low save.

Warrilow added: “I felt Tom in the second half on that right wing, he’s got the ball and driven us up the pitch.”

Luke Blewden, who was recalled by Warrilow from Lewes for tonight’s game, set-up Muggeridge, who cracked his left-footed angled drive agonisingly wide of the top left-hand corner of the Eastleigh goal.

Blewden will be in the Lewes squad for their game away to Enfield Town on Tuesday night.

Warrilow explained: “We’ve recalled Luke Blewden from Lewes, he’s got a game tomorrow night but I felt we needed Blewy tonight as well. I’ve dragged him back in for 35 minutes and he done himself no harm at all.

“I think he’s only had four games since he’s been at Lewes, that’s how bad the (weather) has been so we wanted him to get a few games and it’s nice to know we’ve got that luxury that if we can get him back when we need him, which we possibly might, we know that he’s firing on all cylinders.”

But you sensed that Eastleigh would score a deserved leveller, but the men in blue defended for their lives, with Masters immense in goal.

Eastleigh produced a sweeping move of their own in the 76^th minute when Reason and substitutes Reece Connolly and Craig McAllister linked up well only for Reason to spoon his right-footed shot over from eighteen-yards.

Fleetwood, Strevens and Connolly then linked up well for Fleetwood to go close with a right-footed curler from eighteen-yards, which narrowly sailed over the angle of post and crossbar.

Connolly was then released down the left and his cut back was put wide by Fleetwood, with a right-footed shot from eighteen-yards.

Masters rushed off his line to smother at McAllister’s feet inside the penalty area after Elphick failed to cut out Connolly’s through ball along the lush playing surface.

Masters capped off his brilliant performance with another brilliant save inside the final five minutes.

Eastleigh substitute Michael Green whipped in a corner from the left and Todd powered his header down towards the bottom corner and Masters dived to his right to push the ball towards safety.

“He’s made some good saves tonight Clark,” said Warrilow.

“I’m pleased. He’s had a kick up the a***. I told him straight. It doesn’t make me right or wrong, it’s my opinion.  He was perhaps not pushing himself as much as he should and I saw the hunger in Lewis’ eyes and I gave Lewis a go.

“I said to Clark tonight I’m delighted he’s back in. He was my first choice keeper. Lewis has gone away for a little while and it’s his chance now to come in and sit Lewis back down again.

“He was fantastic. He’s made some great sages in the second half so that’s what he’s there for. I’m pleased for him because that’s the Clark that we know. A couple of things he’s going to be rusty on but I’m not going to penny pinch.”

Warrilow revealed that Lewis Carey has gone away for a ten-day holiday with his family.

“Lewis booked something up when he was at Bromley. He’s come out the pro-game. He wasn’t having the best of times. He went to Bromley, then got released by Bromley and his dad took him away. He didn’t know this was going to happen and it’s just one of those things. He wasn’t in a good place at the time and sometimes there’s more important things than football and he’s dad has done what I’d probably do, take him away for ten days and get his head right.

“How can I leave Clark out? It’s not a personal thing. Clark’s waited and he’s come in and done fantastic for us tonight so that’s what I want. Hopefully Clark now wants that as well.”

It was to be Tonbridge’s night when McAllister’s pass put Fleetwood through on goal and his right-footed drive deflected inches wide of the far post.

Tonbridge Angels almost capped off a great night inside injury time when Muggeridge sped forward down the left and played the ball inside to Ijaha, who cut the ball from his right-foot to his left only to blast his left-footed shot over the stand roof from 25-yards.

Warrilow added: “It was attack and attack but we really should’ve got another one when H (Muggeridge) has gone through.

“We put David in right at the end. I know it sounds wrong, I’d rather him knock the ball out, I think it was Tom and just take it in the corner, but it’s nice that we’re still going for that extra goal, which we knew would be counter-attacking football in the second half.”

Warrilow was delighted with the performance from his side as they embark on a gruelling 20 games during the last ten weeks of the season.

“Overall, I’ve been happy with our performances and this is a massive three points tonight, which we deserve for just not tonight but the way that we’re playing in the last six games.

“We’re halfway through the season. I said to the lads before the game we don’t want an atmosphere around when there’s only ten games to go and we must win this and we must win that. It’s far from it.

“We’ve got a lot of games-in-hand on some of the teams and if we can chalk them off one at a time, I know it’s an old saying, but I said to the lads we can’t get too high or too low.  We’re going to enjoy tonight. Let’s enjoy the win for god sake and then Saturday we’ve got a really hard (home) game against (second-from-bottom) Dorchester that have just turned over Bromley on Saturday so it’s not going to be a stroll in the park.

“We just don’t want to toss this away tonight and that’s what we’ll be drilling back to the lads on Thursday when we go through bits and bobs.”

Who would have put money on Bromley and Eastleigh both going down to away defeats to struggling Dorchester Town and Tonbridge Angels?

Warrilow added: “It’s this league! It’s what happens on the day. If you go with the right attitude and the belief. Winning tonight was going to be very difficult. We didn’t feel sorry for ourselves.”

Tonight’s result certainly went down well in Bromley, who were delighted to see their only main threat for the title lose one of their four games in hand.

Bromley owner Jerry Dolke was keeping tabs on this game and will buy Warrilow a drink the next time they meet.

He said: “I’ve told him I’ve got a few beers waiting the next time I see him!!!!”

Warrilow replied: “It’s the only time I get a drink off him!  When have we got them again?  We’ve got them on the 19^th April because it’s Phil Emblem’s 65^th down here.

“Listen, we just want to finish as high as we can. To get three points tonight is a massive bonus for us when we look at what we had squad wise. Let’s enjoy tonight.”

Tonbridge Angels: Clark Masters, Chris Piper, Henry Muggeridge, Phillip Appiah (Luke Blewden 57), Gary Elphick, Jon Heath, Mark Lovell, David Ijaha, Nathaniel Pinney (Qudus Bolagi 89), Tom Collins, Michael Bakare.
Subs: Charlie Slocombe, Cameron Millham, Scott Chalmers-Stevens

Goals: Michael Bakare 10, Mark Lovell 35

Booked: Henry Muggeridge 15

Eastleigh: Ross Flitney, Will Evans (Michael Green 62), Dan Spence, Jamie Collins, Dean Beckwith, Chris Todd, Ben Strevens, Glen Southam (Craig McAllister 57), Ben Wright (Reece Connolly), Jai Reason, Stuart Fleetwood.
Subs: Yemi Obubade, Lewis Noice

Goal: Stuart Fleetwood 49

Attendance: 304
Referee: Mr Robert Hyde (Brentwood, Essex)
Assistants: Mr Daniel Cook (Braintree, Essex) & Mr James Whittaker (Junior) (Harlow, Essex)