This article originally appeared on Kent Sports News
Bromley FC – The Season so Far – December 2020
With the National League season finally getting underway in
October it’s been a hectic and eventful campaign so far for Bromley manager
Neil Smith and his team.
After a mixed pre-season, which included one game in front
of 600 fans ‘away’ to Cray Wanderers at Hayes Lane the team went into their
first match at home to Dover Athletic behind closed doors. The Ravens started
their fixtures a few days later than the rest of the league when their opening
game away to Macclesfield Town was postponed after Macc folded. Despite the
strange nature to the preparations Bromley won their opening game 4-1 with
loanee Harry Forster having an impressive debut. The club set up an excellent
live streaming service for supporters to watch the home games while there were
either no fans allowed in or just a limited number and it was widely praised by
supporters from other clubs who purchased the broadcasts when their club’s
visited Hayes Lane.
Forster had signed from Watford on loan until January and
was joined by Reeco Hackett-Fairchild from Portsmouth. Reeco had been picked up
by Pompey that January from Bromley, but was now back at Hayes Lane on loan for
the rest of 2020. Coming in on a permanent basis were young midfielders Taylor
Maloney and Tom Purrington, striker James Alabi, experienced midfielder Liam
Trotter and centre backs Byron Webster & Kory Roberts from Football League
clubs. Smith looking to freshen up his options in attack and solidify his
defence from last season, adding some vital experience to his team as he set
the target of making the play offs for the season.
The following Saturday saw The Ravens fall to their first
defeat though when leaders Torquay Utd came to Hayes Lane and won 2-1. The
following Tuesday saw The Ravens travel up to high flying Hartlepool Utd with
the game being beamed back to Hayes Lane for supporters to watch in the bar. A
hard fought performance earned Bromley a point from a 0-0 draw with new signing
Nassim L’Ghoul making his debut at wing back. After the away game at Altrincham
was called off due to a positive Covid 19 test in the Alty squad next up was
the start of their FA Cup campaign.
A 1-0 win at Sutton Utd saw Bromley progress to the first
round of the cup thanks to a Michael Cheek penalty and set up a home tie with
fellow National League side Yeovil Town in November. A midweek home win 3-2 over
Weymouth was followed by a 2-1 defeat to bogey side Eastleigh four days later
as October came to an end with The Ravens sitting in eleventh with 7 points
from 5 matches played.
November began with FA Cup heartbreak as Yeovil came to
Hayes Lane and after dominating the game eventually won it 1-0 scoring in the
last minute of extra time. Bromley playing with then men for over an hour after
Harry Forster had been sent off. Smith’s men would come up with the perfect
response though, winning 3-1 at Barnet before picking up points at home to
Boreham Wood and away at Maidenhead Utd. A hard fought 1-0 win at Altrincham
thanks to an early James Alabi goal, quickly followed by a home point against
Wrexham in 1-1 draw ended the month with the team looking solid and well placed
for a play off challenge in eighth with 16 points from 10 National League
matches.
December began in style with a 4-1 win at newly promoted
Kings Lynn Town, before two home games in front of fans against Stockport
County and Yeovil Town, with crowds capped at 1,200. With London in Tier 2 of
Covid 19 restrictions the club were able to welcome back supporters for the
first time since February, but unfortunately both games would end in defeat
losing 2-0 against County and 2-1 to The Glovers, Michael Cheek scoring the only
goal for The Ravens. Bromley have only beaten Yeovil once in twelve meetings, a
2-1 win back in 1987 thanks to two Alan Scotting goals and despite The Glovers
being bottom of the table the hex continued. Another Michael Cheek goal saw
Bromley win 1-0 away at Solihull Moors live on BT Sport, taking The Ravens up
to third in the table and then the year came to a premature end with a 2-0 home
win over Hemel Hempstead Town in the FA Trophy thanks to two goals from Harry
Forster, setting up a fourth round tie at home to Woking. By this time London
was now in Tier 4 and games were again behind closed doors.
As Neil Smith’s team looked set for a busy festive period of
games, a positive Covid 19 test in the squad meant that the next three games
were postponed with the staff in self isolation. With December coming to a
close, The Ravens sit in eighth place with 22 points from 14 league games, one
place under the play off spots. The side are undefeated away from home, but
have lost five games at Hayes Lane across two competitions, making any talk of an
advantage in having a 3G pitch look like nonsense. Michael Cheek has continued
his goal scoring form with 9 goals so far and James Alabi on 4. The squad looks
the strongest it has been in the six years Bromley have been in the National
League, exemplified by the fact that captain Jack Holland is no longer
guaranteed a start in the back four with Webster and Roberts in impressive form
flanked by Joe Kizzi and Chris Bush at full back. The midfield looks stronger
for the experience of Trotter whose performances have improved game on game,
while keeper Mark Cousins now looks fully fit again and in commanding
form.
There is a positive feeling around the club that the
challenge to make the play offs will be successful come May 2021, as long as
Covid doesn’t keep intervening and the squad stays fit and healthy.
Here’s to a good 2021 ay Hayes Lane.
Colin Head.
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