Groundhog Season at Bromley FC

After a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Billericay in the league which saw us slip to fourth from bottom Mark Goldberg was quick to act to rectify our profligacy in front of goal. First the league’s second highest scorer Louie Theophanous came in from Staines and then another forward Joe Piggott joined on-loan from Charlton. MG has stated at least one player will be leaving to balance the books and it doesn’t take a genius to know it will be a striker!

We had one strike on goal against Billericay and unfortunately that fell to left back Marlon Patterson. Once again we failed to compete against a route one physical side who let us pass all day in front of the back line, but never through it. Tactical naivety also had played it’s part a long with the poor form of the strikers and that needs to be sorted out as well if we are to do enough to stay up. 4-3-3 is leaving us far too exposed and not playing to the strengths of the current squad which could comfortably accommodate 3-5-2 or 4-4-2.  

Away from the league we progressed through to the Quarter Finals of the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday beating a young Gillingham side 3-1 and now on Saturday we are back in FA Trophy First Round action as we entertain Boreham Wood at Hayes Lane. Whether these successes in the knock out competitions proves to be a distraction from staying up or a boost to a poor season remains to be seen.           

Progress in The Trophy!

For the first time in five years we lasted more rounds than Audley Harrison in our FA Trophy campaign! A gutsy 2-0 victory at Staines Town in a replay on Tuesday night thanks to two quality goals from Tony Finn & Ali Chaaban set us up with a First Round Match at home to Boreham Wood on 24 November. The first game at Hayes Lane finished 1-1 after we had started well and faded badly in the second half, once again not making our dominance count when we had it, but Tuesdays result shows some real character from this current squad. Former Irish under 21 International Ian Daly finally got a start and reports back were that he had a good game and could be a useful addition to the forward line given we have a fairly poor record in front of goal so far in 2012.   

Before the next Trophy game we have a vital Conference South game at home to Billericay Town on Saturday and then a slightly less important game with Gillingham in the Kent Senior Cup when I expect MG to give a few squad players a run out. The last time we met Billericay was the Play Off Final in May 2007 that saw us reach this level of football, Town have now joined us after winning the Isthmian Premier last season. Three points on Saturday and we can hopefully go into the two cup games without the spectre of relegation looming too darkly over our shoulders.

              

Cup Football, Distraction or Bonus?

There was no cup romance to be had by the seaside as we were comfortably dispatched 3-0 by Fleetwood Town, all the goals and the game being wrapped up in 34 first half minutes. It was areal shame to see Bromley play so poorly until it was too late, they just didn’t play the way they usually do, instead they banged it long down the diagonals and played right into the home side’s hands. Once we got the ball down and played it was to late, but at least we gave opposition 60 places above us decent game for the second half. Fleetwood were great hosts and the day itself very enjoyable, I just hope if we do make it to the first round again we at least give a better account of ourselves on the pitch.

From playing in front of 1,696 on Saturday with 300 travelling up from Bromley, we then took on Harrow Borough in the London Senior Cup on Tuesday at Hayes Lane in front of 60! Elliott Buchanan’s sublime effort seeing us through 1-0 and setting up a Quarter Final tie at home to either Met Police, Beckenham or Tooting. This competition just really fails to capture the imagination of many fans right up until the final.

It’s cup football again at Hayes Lane this Saturday as we take on Staines Town in the FA Trophy. Once again a very uninspiring draw given they also play in our league and although there is prize money at stake I think most Bromley fans would swap a little progress in the Trophy for three vital league points right now. The league game on the opening day ended 0-0, let’s hope it’s different this time as a replay would not be well received.   

By the time we face Billericay at HL in the league on 17^th November we may be right back down in the mire again, but hopefully there is enough about the squad this year for us to pull clear earlier than the end of April like last season. If we hit a decent patch of league form then we might be able to enjoy a bit of a run in either the Trophy, London or Kent Cups without worrying about relegation.