Worgan's knee injury not as bad as first feared, reveals Warrilow

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow will be forced into making changes for Tuesday night’s trip to Merstham, as they bid to win their first cup game of the season, writes Stephen McCartney.

Warrilow, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk following his side’s 3-0 defeat at table-topping Dover Athletic yesterday, revealed he will be without four players for the Ryman League Cup Second Round clash at Moatside Stadium.

Reserve team goalkeeper Martin Grant could be in line for his second start of the season, following a knee injury sustained by Lee Worgan after Dover Athletic scored the first of their three goals yesterday.

Worgan, the former Hastings United goalkeeper, allowed Frannie Collin’s 47^th minute shot slide underneath his body before he needed five minutes of treatment after Lee Browning slid into him, following Collin’s teasing low cross.

A restricted Worgan couldn’t do anything about Sammy Moore’s thumping header from six-yards after Shaun Welford’s peach of the cross and when Lawrence Ball made it 3-0 after 58 minutes, the game was over as a contest.

“I’m disappointed today because in ten minutes we’ve let three goals in,” bemoaned Warrilow.

“Second half we hardly really tested their goalkeeper, but it’s important we get the boys up.

“There’s a game Tuesday, hopefully we can bounce back with a result and get them in (training on) Thursday.

“It’s going to be a long season, full off ups and downs. We’ve been unbeaten in our last (six league games), that’s stopped today, we’ve got to go on another unbeaten run.”

With excellent backing from his chairman, Jim Parmenter, Dover Athletic player-boss, Andy Hessenthaler has the resources to claim back-to-back titles.

Warrilow, who was forced to offload three players (one on loan) recently, admits he can’t live with that.

“Dover have a very good set-up here with what they’ve got resources wise as well,” he said. “The proof in the pudding is here to see.

“It’s going to be difficult for people to knock them off their perch, but three goals in ten minutes has killed the game.

“That’s what I’m more than disappointed with because I thought we could off, especially in the first half, gone in with our noses in front.”

The Angels will be without Leon Legge and Ade Olorunda, who are both suspended, Worgan could be available for Saturday’s home game against Wealdstone and Tim Olorunda has work commitments, so Warrilow is down to bare bones on Tuesday night.

Speaking about Worgan’s injury, Warrilow said: “He’s basically has to have three stitches in his knee. The lad’s (Browning) slid in and caught his knee, but it doesn’t sound as bad as what it is.

“Obviously it’s a sore injury, but he wanted to carry on. It was the kicking side of things that was effecting him.”

Warrilow added: “But I thought he was outstanding today for me, especially after the way he’s finished the game.

“I thought he made an outstanding save after that to be fair to him, but 3-0 down and chasing the game, like a team like Dover, it’s got to be Christmas come early to get back into the game.”

Warrilow was satisfied with his side’s first half performance, creating good chances through Legge’s header and Ade Olorunda, but it all went wrong in the first 13 minutes of the second half as the fourth placed Angels capitulated against a classy Dover Athletic side.

“It finished on a sour note really,” admitted the former Horsham assistant manager. “First half we had two or three good chances to put the ball in the back of the net, didn’t take any.

“But against teams like Dover you’ve got to take them and it’s come back and bit us.”

Warrilow’s men have fallen at the first hurdle of each cup that they’ve entered this season as Dover Athletic (FA Cup); Ramsgate (FA Trophy) and Whitstable Town (Kent Senior Cup) have came out on top.

Warrilow wants better luck against Surrey opposition on Tuesday night.

“The subs will get a run out and we’ll dip into the ressies again and bring some youngsters through,” revealed the boss.

“Lee (Worgan) will have three stitches that will come out at the end of the week so I’m hoping he’ll play Saturday, but we’ll have to wait to see how the week goes on.

“I said to the boys I wanted to win last Tuesday, but we went to Whitstable, I can’t knock the lads, we had 90% of the play but it just didn’t happen on the night, (losing 5-4 on penalties after the game finished 1-1 after extra time).

“We’ll be looking to go to Merstham and stay in this cup as long as we can.”

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

Merstham v Tonbridge Angels
Ryman League Cup Second Round
Tuesday 2^nd December 2008
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Moatside Stadium, Weldon Way, Merstham, Surrey RH1 3QB