Tonbridge Angels 4-0 Hendon - We must stay in the play-off spots, says Warrilow

RIGHT ON Q:  Striker Akwasi Edusei scored a hat-trick as Tonbridge Angels climbed up into fifth place in the Ryman Premier League table after their convincing 4-0 home win over fellow play-off contenders Hendon.
Photograph courtesy of David Couldridge - www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/gallery

Hendon arrived in west Kent sitting in sixth place in the Ryman Premier League table but they had no answer to the Angels tonight.

Carl Rook took his goalscoring tally for the Angels to 17 since his money move from Horsham in December and strike partner Akwasi Edusei took his total to seven with a hat-trick.

The Angels climb up four places to fifth - the last play-off berth - and must win their last three league games to cement their position for the end of season lottery.

Angels boss Tommy Warrilow kept the same starting eleven that defeated Harrow Borough by three goals to nil at the weekend.

Warrilow - and goalkeeper Matt Reed - received their manager and goalkeeper of the month awards from the Ryman League for March.

But there were injury scares tonight as central midfielder Tommy Tyne (hamstring) and John Beales (knee) were both substituted during the first half.

Beales was stretchered off just before the break following a challenge on the back of his knee by Hendon’s central defender Marc Leech, inside the Hendon penalty area.

Beales’ replacement, the versatile Simon Glover, meanwhile, impressed alongside James Donovan at the heart of the Angels defence.

It took only 45 seconds for the Kent side to create their first chance of the night, in a game where both sides could have climbed into fifth place with a win.

A low cross from right-sided winger John Westcott was stroked towards goal from 12-yards by Rook but Hendon goalkeeper Luke Blackmore made a comfortable save to his right.

Hendon’s central midfielder Jamie Busby then had a couple of shots from outside the penalty box. His first shot, a right-footed volley, ballooned high over Reed’s crossbar, before testing the highly-rated goalkeeper with a right-footed drive, which was low and comfortable for the former West Ham United man.

Tonbridge Angels called Blackmore into action after just nine minutes when Westcott’s first corner of the game was met by a bullet header from Beales but the goalkeeper was on hand to beat away the shot.

But their vocal supporters were celebrating as their side broke the deadlock with 17 minutes and 11 seconds on the clock.

Westcott delivered his second corner of the game and this was flicked on by Donovan at the near post and this found Rook at the far post who powered his header into the roof of the net from just two-yards.

This was the time that Tyne withdrew from the action.

Hendon, meanwhile, went close following their first corner of the game on 21 minutes as Leach’s header dropped just over Reed’s crossbar, after Jamie Busby’s flag-kick.

A good move from Hendon down the right gave them another good chance five minutes later.

Daniel Dyer played the ball out to Lubomir Guentchev down the right and the Bulgarian’s cross was met on the chest by Davis Haule, who then turned and sent the ball high over Reed’s bar.

Their best chance, however, arrived just before the half-hour mark and from their second corner of the game.

Busby’s corner found Lee O’Leary unmarked inside the Angels’ penalty area, but his header dropped wide of the post.

But the Kent side doubled their lead with 37 minutes and 26 seconds on the clock.

Westcott’s third corner was met by a powerful header from Beales on the edge of the area and Edusei flicked the ball over Blackmore and into the net from two-yards.

The fans that decided to watch their local side in action, instead of watching Champions League football on the box, vented their frustrations at Hendon’s players after Leech’s challenge on the back of Beales’ knee forced the defender off on a stretcher.

Luckily, the injury was not as worse as first feared.

Tonbridge Angels suffered another blow when central midfielder Anthony Storey picked up his tenth booking of the season tonight and will therefore face a two-match suspension.

Not as bad as Hendon, who picked up five yellow cards.

Reed thwarted Hendon with a fine save with just 62 seconds on the clock in the second half.

Davis Haule burst through the middle of the Angels defence and with only the goalkeeper to beat, Reed made a fine save with his legs.

The ball then fell to Guentchev on the right hand side of the penalty are and his dinked cross was flicked wide by Haule from close range at the far post.

That save proved crucial as Tonbridge Angels scored their third, three minutes and 12 seconds into the half.

A cross from Westcott fell to Edusei who turned Leach inside the box before the 21-year-old striker drove a left-footed shot into the bottom left-hand corner.

Reed made another fine save after 63 minutes, turning Guentchev’s left-footed shot, which was heading towards the bottom left-hand corner, around the post.

Hendon thought they had pulled a goal back with twelve minutes remaining but substitute Ben Hudell drove his left-footed free-kick just past the left-upright from 25-yards.

But Reed blotted his copy-book when his poor kick gifted Davis Haule a sight on goal, from an acute angle down the left-channel but the goalkeeper was relieved to see the ball flash past the far post.

But former Welling United and Ramsgate striker Edusei sealed his hat-trick with 41 second half minutes and 54 seconds on the clock.

Rook did well to win the ball back on the edge of the Hendon penalty area and set up substitute Scott Kinch, whose low drive was palmed away by keeper Blackmore.

Edusei, however, reacted before the visiting defenders to steer his left-footed shot into the near corner from an acute angle.

Warrilow, in charge of his 35^th game, has challenged his players to remain in the play-off spots for their last three league games.

“They’re a good team Hendon, broke well tonight a few times but overall the work ethic we put in again and Q (Akwasi Edusei) was lively as ever up front,” the former Horsham assistant manager told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

Praising the hat-trick hero, Warrilow added: “I’m so pleased for him to be honest because he’s put himself in positions before and just not tucked them away but now he seems to be coming into his own so overall it sends the right message out, four-nil!”

This is the first time that the Angels have been in the top five this season and Warrilow gave this message.

“First time in it and hopefully we can stay in it,” he said. “But again we’ve got another massive one Saturday at Billericay, that’s not an easy place to go but like I said to the boys before the game after Billericay there will be another massive one at home here against Hornchurch.

“But the games are running out now for clubs so if we can just stay there and keep the winning streak going.

“I’m pleased for the supporters and the lads really. If we can just get into the play-off spots for them. They’ve worked hard and there’s a lot of change down here and hopefully they’re bearing the fruits of it now.”

Warrilow will know more about Beales injury in the morning, but early signs are not as bad as first feared and could be fit for the trip to Billericay Town at the weekend.

He said: “Beales’ got a clump in the back of the knee and we’ll know more tomorrow but I don’t think it’s as bad as first thought, which is obviously a blessing.”

Having attended Jack Maddams funeral this morning, Warrilow will make sure his players will reach the play-off’s as a fitting tribute to the seventeen-year-old who passed away in his sleep two weeks ago.

“I was at his funeral today and what I’d like to do is make the play-off’s for the boy and his family,” said Warrilow.

But Warrilow believes he has found the “little and large” combination up front with Rook and Edusei, nicknamed Q.

He said: “We’ve always struggled to find someone up front with Rookie and Q came along and we liked him.

“We see bits in him that we liked and to be fair to him he’s been subbed, he’s been left out, been on and when we lost Jamie Cade (who returned to Lewes following his loan spell here), to be fair to the boy, he’s taken his chance.”

Tonbridge Angels: Matt Reed, Ray Powell, Matt Lovell, Tommy Tyne (Scott Kinch 20), John Beales (Simon Glover 45), James Donovan, John Westcott, Anthony Storey, Akwasi Edusei, Carl Rook, Fraser Logan (Kirk Watts 80).
Subs: Michael Phillips, Phil Starkey.

Goals: Carl Rook 18, Akwasi Edusei 38, 49, 87

Booked: Anthony Storey 40, Simon Glover 53

Hendon: Luke Blackmore, Daniel Dyer (Iavor Guentchev 90), James Burgess, Marc Leach, Sam Page, Jamie Busby, Rakatahr Hudson (Ben Hudell 45), Lee O’Leary, Brian Haule (Belal Aiteouakrim 72), Lubomir Guentchev, Davis Haule.
Subs: Jack Page, Casey Maclaren.

Booked: Mark Leach 37, Sam Page 39, Rakatahr Hudson 45, Ben Hudell 65, Lee O’Leary 71

Attendance: 389
Referee: Mr Tony Mason (Sidcup)
Assistants: Mr Darren Blunden (Dartford) & Mr Andy Mead (Orpington)