Bright future for Angels
Tonbridge
Steve McKimm has urged Tonbridge teenagers to stay put and not have their heads turned. Injuries have seen Angels turn to youth and boss McKimm believes the future’s bright. He’s particularly impressed with right-back Liam Smith, centre-half Callum Taylor, striker Tashi-Jay Kwayie and right-midfielder Richard Frimpong. McKimm said: “I see a lot of good work behind the scenes with these young players and provided they don’t get cherry-picked or have their heads turned by clubs promising them the world and not fulfilling it, there are good times ahead for Tonbridge. “We can’t stick them all on contract – that’s the bottom line and I don’t want to put pressure on them – but if they stay with us, we can help them as much as we can. “If anything full-time turns up, then that’s not to be sniffed at but I’ve seen so many players have their heads turned and then end up at lower-league sides when it doesn’t work out.” Tonbridge go to Kingstonian in the FA Trophy second qualifying round tomorrow (Saturday), a week on from a 1-0 home defeat by the K’s which leaves McKimm’s men eighth in the Ryman League, Premier Division. With injuries taking their toll and Nathan Elder away at a family funeral, McKimm played Kwayie as a lone striker in a 4-5-1 with Luke Blewden wide-right. He went 4-4-2 during the second half but Alan Inns’ seventh-minute strike proved to be the winner. McKimm said: “I’ve no problem with criticism. “I decided to try and pass the ball through them and it didn’t work. “Normally we get the ball wide and put crosses in for Nathan and we did still want four in the box from crosses. “Could I have changed it sooner? Maybe. “Would I change it sooner if I had the chance again? Possibly but you play in the moment.” Elder returned on Tuesday as Angels lost 1-0 to Bromley in the Kent Senior Cup second round. The Lillywhites named a fullstrength side and advanced with Tobi Sho-Silver’s goal before half-time. McKimm said: “We were mixand-match and I thought we acquitted ourselves well. “If everyone was available, I’d have had my strongest side out because you want to win cup games.”