Another win!

Things looked desperate on Saturday as we llost 2-1 at home to Hampton, although there were chances for us to get a point, then came Tuesday night and a well earned 1-0 win over Thurrock.
A team meeting was called on the Monday and whatever was said it did the trick. With the high earners either 'injured' or dropped the young hard working side who represented Bromley did the club proud and Leon McKenzie grabbed the vital goal against his old club on 70mins.
The next two games are against the second placed side away at Farnbororugh and then at home to leaders Braintree before the biggest game left this season when we play away to Cray at Hayes Lane in the semi final of the Kent Senior Cup. With a threadbare suqad and a much reduced budget this could be a tough month, but if the spirit of Tuesday night can be re-captured then at least we'll put in performances worth watching.   
     

A Win!

So after a spirited but futile display at Woking we finally recorded a win over Ebbsfleet’s kids in the Kent Senior Cup this Thursday, scoring twice and keeping a clean sheet. We now face Cray Wands away at Hayes Lane in the semi final, Hayden Bird must have mixed feelings over this cup progress as the potential for hysterical fall out if we lose to our tenants is very high, and that includes from me.

Saturday sees and early kick off as Hampton come to The Lane, we know we’ll be in for a tough early afternoon as they are big and direct, but hopefully the squad will be upbeat after their first win in nearly two months.

Bird has had no luck with injuries at all, there are currently five players crocked, one suspended and Ryan Dolby has decided to join Welling leaving us with a threadbare squad and Academy players filling the bench. Add that to the lack lustre attitude of certain high earners, along with the budget cuts and it hasn’t helped the new man in charge.    

A Goal and A Point!

1-1 with Boreham Wood at home. Well it was an improvement on recent performances at least, Tutu scored a lovely header and we showed some promising signs going forward in the second half, but defensive frailty once again saw us drop points.
The moaning on the forum has now got to the point that I dread going on there. Things aren't great on the pitch right now, but get some perspective please!
A tough trip to Woking coming up on Saturday then it's Ebbsfleet at home on Thurs in the ksc with Cray awaiting the winners. Won't they be hoping to rub salt in The Raven's open wounds...

When Will We Score Again?

Two more defeats and two more games without a goal, but reports back from the South Coast excursions were that the performances were much improved and in the case of Eastleigh we were very unlucky not to at least grab a point. Paul Vines returned to the club from his second loan spell and made the starting line up for Tuesday partnering Charlie Ide with Warren McBean on the bench and Leon McKenzie not involved at all.

The lack of goals will be the main concern for Hayden Bird going into the home game with an improving Boreham Wood, in the last six games we’ve only notched once via a late consolation penalty at Welling.

Sadly I am expecting Saturday’s crowd to be the lowest for a league game at Hayes Lane this season as the disgruntled vote with their feet.       

Well beaten by Welling Take 2.

With Thurrock at home rained off we had to wait for our next match until the following Wednesday when we travelled to Welling for the replay of the abandoned league game from the previous month. Welling had lead 2-1 with only three minutes left when the floodlights went out, this time they went one better beating us 3-1 with all the goals coming in the second half. Bromley played well for 45mins and could have gone into the break in front, but as soon as we conceded in the second period there was only one winner. The fragile confidence of the team and it’s very young defence was exposed with two set piece goals and a gift of a third as our players attended to an injured team mate Referee Forrester played on and The Wings cashed in with an open goal. Harry Harding tucked away a late penalty, but it really was nothing more than a consolation as we were well beaten.

Bromley are now ninth in the table, play off dreams snuffed out and only the Kent Senior Cup to play for. As Hayden Bird re-shapes the team into his own we can expect more painful defeats as he learns on the job and builds a side for next season. Possibly not the best time to announce a £2 hike in admission for 2011/12!  

I still can’t help feeling though that we could still have been challenging for promotion if the early success had been built on and the whole playing & management set up that started the season had stayed together. It’s two tough trips to Hampshire next with games at Havant & Eatsleigh before a home game with Boreham Wood.