We're dropping like flies, admits Dolby - EXCLUSIVE

Tonbridge Angels’ player-manager, Tony Dolby is facing a major selection headache, as many of his players are “dropping like flies,” due to injuries, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Angels returned to home soil last night, by beating their Kent League neighbours, Tunbridge Wells 3-0 to win back the George Piper Courier Cup, after the trophy spent a year at Culverden Stadium.

Three quality second half goals from Ray Powell, substitute Jon Main, and Hamid Barr on his homecoming, were the plusses for Dolby.

But on the down-side, left-winger, Matt Lovell was sent off after head butting Andy Boyle in the 69^th minute, after Wells’ former Chatham Town defender went in on him with a strong, two-footed tackle.

Dolby was already without Scott Kinch, Fraser Logan (ankle), and summer signing from Dover Athletic, Tommy Tyne (ankle), before the west-Kent clash, but now he faces more players on the sidelines.

And left-back, Jon Heath was forced off at half-time with a foot injury, and Adam Greenway, their summer signing from Bromley, lasted just 33 minutes, having hurt his ankle.

Dolby will also be without Powell, John Beales, Kinch - and Lovell - for their opening Ryman Premier League clash with Staines Town at the Betterview Longmead Stadium on Saturday, 18^th August.

And Dolby, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, is expecting to have to do a head-count before their opening day match.

He said: “I think it’s always at the back of my mind that kind of thing, but with the way we’re dropping like flies at the moment, I think it will be a case of get though the next few games and making sure we have minimal injuries.

“With the suspensions that we’ve got, it’s very important that I’ve got a fit squad to choose from, so we’ll have to look at that, and hopefully come Staines, I’ll have the strongest eleven I want out there that I did at the start of pre-season.”

Dolby wants his squad to keep another clean sheet when Southern Leaguers Fleet Town visit for another pre-season friendly, on Saturday.

“We’ve got to look at the injury front,” explained Dolby.

And speaking about Andy Sinton’s side, Dolby said: “I’m sure they’re going to be very organised, they don’t concede very few goals and they had a good season last year.

“So we’ll have to attack that game, we’re at home, and we want to keep another clean sheet and score a few good goals again and play some decent stuff.”

Visit Tonbridge Angels’ websites: www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk & www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/forum

Tonbridge Angels v Fleet Town
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 4^th August 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Betterview Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JF