FORMER Angels hitman Carl Rook leaves the Longmead with a heavy heart and a feeling of what might have been.

The 27-year-old, who scored 64 goals in 82 games since signing from Horsham in November 2007, joined runaway Ryman Premier League leaders Dartford for an undisclosed fee on Tuesday. He points to one incident in last year's play-off final against Carshalton as possibly the turning point in his Angels career.

"It's all Simon Glover's fault!" Rook joked. "We all asked him after the game, how did he get barged off the ball by someone who is shorter than him! (Richard Jolly won the 50/50 with Glover and scored the winner).

"I think if we had won that game, we would have had the momentum for the final against Staines. I suppose that is the story of Tonbridge, we score a lot of goals but the likes of Dover, last season, and Dartford don't seem to let many in.

"Who knows if we had got promoted, then perhaps Garry (Pass) and Nick (Sullivan) would have stayed at the club.

"I haven't got a bad word to say about my time at Tonbridge and we had some really good times. The only thing I am a bit disappointed with is the internet forum. I went on the Dartford and Tonbridge one on Tuesday. The Dartford one is really positive, but some comments on the Angels board are a bit negative (about me).

"Sixty-four goals in 82 games, well I think that is a good return for a striker.

"You are going to get different types of players at this level. You are never going to get a player who can dribble past players, have lightning pace and score loads of goals, otherwise they wouldn't be playing non-league football. I think they expect Ronaldo!"

Rook's record speaks for itself and confirms his place as one of the best strikers in non-league football. Although the target man hasn't been at his best this season, he still has 18 goals and manager Tommy Warrilow will be looking for Paul Booth, Akwasi Edusei and Jamie Cade to begin to fire for the remainder of the season.

With Gavyn Dayes, Lewis Hamilton, Jean-Michal Sigere and Steve Ferguson all departing this season, Warrilow didn't want to lose Rook, but finances have forced his hand.

"I didn't want to lose any of the players that have gone, but we have had to address things and it is just one of those things that had to happen," Warrilow said.

"I still believe that Carl Rook is one the best target men in non-league football, although this year he hasn't really set the world on fire, and he would be the first to admit it. It is a shame he had to leave and I wish him well at Dartford."

He added that Rook's departure should be the last for a while. Rook spoke highly of his former manager and recalled his personal highs and lows of his time at the Longmead.

"Tommy took me off the bench from Dover and he has been the biggest influence on my career. I have learnt a lot off him and I have nothing but praise for him as a manager. Perhaps this year I have gone a bit stale and I know, despite scoring 18 goals, that I haven't been at my best. So maybe a fresh start at Dartford will be good for me and I am looking forward to playing for them. The opportunity to play at a higher level, of course if Dartford go up (which looks like a foregone conclusion), was another reason why I chose them and it is a shame I didn't get to do it with Tonbridge."

He will, of course, be hoping for a better start to life at his new club.

"In my first five games (at Tonbridge), I couldn't hit a barn door, so it wasn't the best start. I came in just after Jon Main, who was a legend to the supporters, and did say to my dad, I am not sure if I can fill these boots.

"I remember the time me and John Westcott were up in Oxford for the FA Trophy tie. We couldn't play because we were trophy tied, and he was crossing the ball to me. I kept putting the ball over the bar and one even cleared the stand. There were some Tonbridge fans in the stand and they must have thought, who is this player! I suppose the expectancy and pressure of playing at the club perhaps got to me.

"Once I got my first goal I ended up with 18 as we went on a really good run towards the end of that season.

"The first time I really felt like I belonged at the club was when I scored two goals against Maidstone and we won 2-1. All the supporters were coming up to me telling me I had sunk the Stones. The Dartford game, last season, was also special as I scored a hat-trick, three different types of goal, and we played them off the park."

Angels fans will be relieved to hear that one of the stipulations of the deal is that Rook will not play in the upcoming fixture to be played between the two teams on February 13.

Rook did not rule out a return to the Longmead in the future if circumstances change.