Bromley FC Season 2020/21 Part 2 – January to June 2021
After the FA Trophy victory over Hemel Hemsptead just before
Christmas Bromley had to take an enforced break due to a Covid 19 case in the
squad. Former Ireland Under 12 International forward Courtney Duffus signed
from Yeovil Town, but it wasn’t until mid-January that The Ravens played again
when they lost on penalties in the FA Trophy to Woking after a 1-1 draw and
then suffered another loss 2-1 at home to Halifax Town. This was followed by a
2-2 draw at home to Woking in the league three days later, having lead 2-0 at
one stage. January ended on a positive note though when Neil Smith’s side
defeated Aldershot at home live on BT Sport 2-0, with goals from Jack Bridge
& Michael Cheek lifting the spirits.
The effects of teams having to survive with no financial
income from fans came to the fore when grants from the National League ended
and clubs had to apply for loans to continue their seasons. Some teams
furloughed staff and brought in cheaper loan players, others carried on
regardless and Dover Athletic stopped playing completely, eventually having
their record expunged with all points won in games against them removed. Bromley
losing three points and four goals scored having beaten them 4-1 at home in
October. By the end of the season the league table would reflect the haves,
have nots and those just getting by.
February started with a very disappointing 2-1 defeat at
Weymouth both Chris Bush & Charlie Wakefield sent off on an afternoon to
forget. Smith condemning his players indiscipline in the post match interview
and promised changes. A 2-0 home win over Kings Lynn Town followed before snow
saw the away game at Wealdstone postponed. The following Tuesday The Ravens
fell to a 1-0 loss away at Dagenham & Redbridge as the struggled to get any
form together to keep in touch with the top seven, losing Harry Forster to a
hamstring injury. Creditable draws away at Boreham Wood and at home to
Maidenhead Utd followed, before February ended with a 3-1 home win over
Altrincham, goals coming from a Cheek double & Kizzi, Bush was again sent
off late on though, his third of the season. His suspensions meaning that
Frankie Raymond had to be deployed as an emergency left back in several
games.
March began with a trip to the league leaders Sutton Utd and
in a dramatic game The Ravens lead twice through Cheek & Duffus before
eventually losing 3-2 conceding two goals in the final four minutes. A rare win
at Eastleigh followed, but again progress was frustrated by a 2-2 home draw
with bottom side Barnet. A midweek 2-1 win away at Yeovil Town followed,
Bromley’s first ever win there courtesy of a Michael Cheek strike and an injury
time own goal, and that was followed up by a hard fought 1-0 home win over
Solihull Moors thanks to another Joe Kizzi header in the second half. With The
Ravens in seventh place, March came to an end with a home game against leaders
Sutton Utd with all to play for, but they were very much second best losing 3-1,
barely laying a glove on Matt Gray’s side.
Two days later the club announced that Manager Neil Smith
had been relieved of his duties with immediate effect, owner Robin
Stanton-Gleaves stating that he did not believe Smith would be able to fulfil
the goal of making the play offs. Reaction to the sacking was split down the
middle with some fans saying it was long overdue and others hugely disappointed
by the move, ending Smith’s six year spell as manager.
With Roger Johnson & Alan Dunne taking temporary charge
of the team, Bromley travelled up to North Wales to face fellow play off
challengers Wrexham and they were comprehensively beaten 3-0 to end the month
sitting in ninth.
On the following Monday the club announced it’s new first
team manager in Andy Woodman. Woodman became a coach after a long career in the
professional game and he would work with Alan Dunne & Roger Johnson as the
management team.
Woodman’s fist game in charge saw Bromley fall 2-0 down to
Wealdstone before they rallied and pulled back to secure a 2-2 draw on Good
Friday. Left back Charlie Fox joined the club after a spell at Walton Casuals,
he’d previously had a spell with the club in pre-season before picking up an
injury. A 0-0 draw away to Stockport County on Easter Monday followed, but they
lost Byron Webster to a serious hand injury, which would rule him out for the
remaining league fixtures. The first win under the new manager came on the
Saturday with a 1-0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge courtesy of another Michael
Cheek goal and three more wins away from home followed. A dramatic 4-3 victory
at Woking saw Bromley score three goals in the final eleven minutes to come
from behind and pick up the three points. Woodman then brought in two players on
loan in the shape of defender Alex Mitchell from Millwall and midfielder Tate
Campbell from Birmingham City, prior to the 2-1 wins at play off challengers
Chesterfield & Halifax Town. April ended with the teams first loss under
Woodman as they were edged out 2-1 at home to Chesterfield, but over all it had
been an impressive first month for the new manager winning four and drawing two.
There was still no luck with injuries though as Taylor
Maloney and Courtney Duffus both picked up injuries that would end their
seasons & Liam Trotter was having to limit his games and play through the
pain, although Jack Holland & Billy Bingham both returned after lengthy
spells out and fit again Watford loanee Harry Forster came back for another
spell. Kory Roberts and Charlie Wakefield both found themselves not included in
the match day squad for the rest of the campaign and Luke Coulson barely
featured.
The May Day Bank Holiday saw Jeff Stelling visit Hayes Lane
with his Hartlepool Utd side and in an enthralling tight game The Ravens came
out on top with a 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Jude Arthurs. Four away games followed, a 0-0 draw away at
second place Torquay Utd in front of the BT Sport cameras, a hard fought 1-0
win at Wealdstone thanks to another Joe Kizzi goal, converting a corner from
close range and then a very impressive 2-2 at Notts County. Another dramatic
late winner away at Aldershot saw Bromley win 3-2, Michael Cheek & James
Alabi putting Bromley in front twice before Kizzi popped up with the later
winner again. The game at Aldershot was the first to see the return of a
limited number of home fans to attend matches in the ground since December and
Bromley fans would have the opportunity to see their side at Hayes Lane for the
last league game.
The win set Bromley up requiring a final day victory at home
to Notts County, and hope for other results to go their way, in order to make
it into the promotion play offs. And so it happened, a second half goal from
Ben Williamson in front of the fans on the North Terrace was enough to secure
the three points and with Wrexham dropping points at Dagenham, Bromley moved
into seventh place and the final play off birth. The Ravens would travel to
fourth placed Hartlepool Utd the following Sunday for the first elimination
game.
Live on TV for the fifth time this season The Ravens
travelled up to Hartlepool Utd on the first Sunday in June. With 1,700 home
fans in Victoria Park, but no away support. Sadly, within the first 24 minutes
the game was over as Bromley trailed 3-0, looking uncharacteristically
vulnerable in defence and unable to control the midfield. Second half sub James
Alabi pulled one back just after the break, but there was no further way
through for Andy Woodman’s team until deep into injury time when Alex Mitchell
made it 3-2, but it was just too late in the day for another memorable comeback
and the season was over for Bromley.
Michael Cheek netted 23 league goals, James Alabi scored 8
on limited game time & Joe Kizzi contributed 7 vital goals from right back,
while January signing Courtney Duffus got 5 before injury ended the striker’s campaign
early.
Bromley only played five games in from of supporters all
season, winning two and losing three, but they achieved their highest ever
National League finish and sampled the promotion play offs for the first time
at this level. Suspensions were a major problem with 9 red cards show to
Bromley players.
Colin Head.
