Big Month Ahead

Following the 6-0 demolition of relegation threatened Staines Town on Saturday Bromley head into the Valentine’s Day match against Hayes & Yeading United at Hayes Lane second in the league after briefly leading for three days. With Ebbsfleet’s involvement in the FA Trophy at and end I fully expect Jamie Day’s newly assembled super squad to push for at least a play off spot if not the title. They may be twelve points behind us, but we play each other twice in the next month and the outcome of these matches will go a long way to shape how the season progresses from here especially considering that sandwiched between these games are tough trips to Sutton and Chelmsford. Basingstoke, Whitehawk, Havant et al will all being eyeing up Boreham Wood who seem to be on the edge similar to our capitulation at this stage last season.            

There are plenty of reason to be optimistic as a Ravens fan right now, recently returned Brad Goldberg has found his scoring boots along with new strike partner Ben May and the midfield are really stepping up with a lot of competition for places. The defence looks more solid and we now have a keeper who fills his teammates with confidence rather than doubt. Whisper it quietly, but with games in hand if we continue the good run of form, it really is a golden opportunity to move on up. 

Bones, Thugs and Harmony

As January comes to an end Bromley find themselves at a crossroads in the season starting with a very tough game against Havant & Waterlooville at Hayes Lane on Saturday. The next month will define just how the league campaign shapes up with games against three promotion rivals and three other teams desperate for points at the other end of the table. We have the chance to put some pressure on Boreham Wood and space between us and the other teams in the play off spots, but if we drop points we could soon be swallowed up by the pack.  

Last Saturdays win at Basingstoke lifted the spirits after what had been a poor start to 2015, with the arrival of a new keeper in Alan Julian, Ben May and Anthony Cook from Ebbsfleet, plus the return Bradley Goldberg on loan, MG and the club have shown they are willing to make the changes and add to the squad in order for us to compete. Damien Scannell has already gone and it is expected Seb Brown and one of the strikers will soon follow suite to balance the books.    

If we can get PJD & Rob Swaine fit on a regular basis, plus Ali back in action then the squad is looking solid and capable with Moses Ademola, Danny Waldren & Cook all in good form.     

Among the other teams at the top Boreham Wood have brought in Daryl McMahon, Ebbsfleet have assembled a squad for League Two and others have strengthened so it’s going to be a battle right to the end of April for the title and Play Offs.      

Tis the season to play loads of football....

Heading into Christmas Bromley are looking well set for an exciting New Year challenging at the top of Conference South and still in two cups. After a decent second half performance against Leiston in the FA trophy saw us through on Saturday The Ravens have been rewarded with a trip to Torquay United in January, which feels like a real prestige tie given The Gulls Football League heritage. 

Ahead of this though there is plenty to play for in the league with the usual busy period over the Yule festivities. On Saturday we entertain St Albans City before travelling to Concord Rangers on Boxing Day and then hosting Wealdstone on Sunday 29^th and then Concord on New Years Day. We then have a free Saturday when we were supposed to be travelling down to Salisbury City prior to their unfortunate demise, which should at least give our small squad some breathing space after a crazy glut of games that are not only hard on the players, but also the fans financially and commitment wise. 

After the FA Cup exit the squad was trimmed down to a more reasonable size with players either loaned out or moved on where possible. We still have a very capable team and if we can avoid the terrible injury and suspension problems of the previous season we should be up there again come April. Ebbsfleet have probably now become favourites with Jamie Day in charge and incomparable resources it will be interesting to see if Boreham Wood can keep their fantastic run going which sees them six points clear at the time of writing. 

Christmas and Easter are the crunch times when it comes to issues at the top and bottom of the table, so let’s hope we can dig in and take the good form into 2015 to keep hope alive

Angels and Ravens

Following an excellent last gasp win over Sutton on Saturday there was frustration midweek as the game as Basingstoke was called off just prior to kick off after torrential rain flooded the pitch at Camrose. A tough one to take for all the staff and fans who had made the long Tuesday night journey into Hampshire only to be turned back on arrival. 

Hasting keeper Josh Pelling had been signed on dual registration for this game to cover Seb Brown’s suspension, but we now head in to the FA trophy game at Tonbridge Angels this weekend with one time reserve custodian Paul Agu seemingly set to play for the first time this season. We’ve had a little more success in this competition in recent times after what had been a desperately poor record previously. Whether we give it a go this season will remain to be seen as promotion is the priority and games against The Angels are always very closely contested.     

This game is quickly followed by a home London Senior Cup game V Corinthian Casuals next Tuesday with the added incentive of a home game against AFC Wimbledon waiting in the next round.   

We sit second in the table going into December six points behind Boreham Wood with two games in hand, but also with Gosport and Ebbsfleet (who have just sacked Steve Brown) on our tail and another dozen or so teams close behind. If any team can find a decent run of form then the league is up for grabs heading towards the New Year. 

We have the squad, the support and the backing so hopefully we’ll be at least in the play offs spots as it heats up into 2015 and hopefully in one or both of the cup competitions after the next two games.         

Another Big Game on Saturday

After the incredible FA Cup match against Dartford where over 4,000 packed in Hayes Lane  to see us lose 4-3 and then the disappointment of a home defeat in the league to 1-0 Hemel after playing with no recognised keeper and ten men for over 45minutes we got things back on the right path with a solid 2-1 win at Hayes & Yeading Utd on Saturday. Moses Ademola & PJD both notched again showing their value to the team and confirming they must start every game, with their tireless effort and the magic touch in front of goal. 

Of all the summer acquisitions Moses has proved to be the most valuable, while others with bigger reputations and everything that goes with that have failed to contribute the 25year old winger/striker has rarely put a foot wrong. PJD once again looks to be heading for a 20+ goal season from midfield and it’s somewhat surprising that a bigger club hasn’t lured him away with such consistency in his quality of performance. Reece Prestedge another close season buy has proved his worth whenever started and it’s quite a selection problem for MG to have three central midfielders all playing so well with Danny Waldren and Ali Fuseini also on the top of their game right now. 

With recent striking recruit Duncan Culley already scoring twice on his loan spell at Hampton, the light of scrutiny is shining on Adam Burchall and Jamie Slabber who have both failed to find any form so far this season and look to be struggling to recapture the game they once had. There is a massive back catalogue of strikers with big reputations who have joined Bromley in the past and then failed to deliver, let’s hope for the club’s sake these guys, both on two years deals, can turn it round.

At the other end of the pitch Seb Brown now faces a one match ban for the FA Trophy game at the end of November after his red card V Hemel. After a poor second half against Dartford the ex-AFC Wimbledon custodian has had a tough week. The acid test will be of MG choses to play one game with Paul Agu in goal or bring in someone else on loan, which would put Brown under pressure for his place in the team.                                 

Next up we host old rivals Sutton United on Saturday, there is always an extra added something when we play the amber & chocolates and this one will be no different. Sutton recorded the double over us last season and were up in the play off spots, this campaign has been tougher for them so far, but I’m sure they will still be a tough prospect. With former United players Jamie Slabber and Damien Scannell set to be in the squad for The Ravens it could be an excellent time for one or both of these players to win the hearts of the Bromley fans with a goal and performance against their old employers.   

First Round Fever!

Saturday sees another big FA Cup game at Hayes Lane as we entertain local rivals Dartford in the First Round Proper. In recent years we have been spoiled with success in this competition reaching the First Round five times under Mark Goldberg’s management, having only got through once in 25 years previously.

We’ve got past three rounds and played four games on the journey to this game whilst The Darts have just had to play once, but despite our visitors being in a higher division there are technically only eight league places currently between us. With the added spice of a local derby and no love lost between the sides in recent encounters this should be a cracking game.

Ticket sales have gone well so far, with 350 sold by Thursday morning, prices have been sensibly kept to the usual structure and you will be able to get in on the day. I can see there being well over 3,000 packed into HL for this one, so fingers crossed Bromley won’t freeze as they have done in front of big crowds before. Every time we’ve had over 800 at home this season we have failed to perform, but the team looks stronger and more determined in recent weeks so let’s hope they can shake off the nerves and get a result, which would take us through to the Second Round for the first time since the 1940’s. This would be a much deserved reward for the unsung heros behind the scenes and the hardcore fans.                

If I was going to place a bet I’d go for a draw and a replay at Princes Park, which given our away form wouldn’t be a disaster.  

Up For The Cup

After a blank weekend due to the demise of Salisbury City, we travelled up to Bishop Stortford on Tuesday night and battled out a 1-1, with new signing Jordan Robertson scoring just before half time. Robertson looks to be a good signing and if he continues to in the same vein probably heading off to league football come January, which is why we got him on contract so quickly. 

Elsewhere we still seem no nearer to knowing what our strongest line up is, defensively we miss Rob Swaine and our frailties at set pieces are obvious, while the omission of Moses Ademola is baffling given his consistently good performances either up front or on the wing. Pierre Joseph-Dubois is struggling to find a place in the side, yet Adam Birchall and Jamie Slabber are constantly given more chances to justify their two year contracts despite struggling to find form. Duncan Culley also looks to be a good acquisition, but is probably too similar to Robertson to play with him. Maybe apart from in defence we just have too much choice!            

Saturday sees Bromley back in FA Cup action as they travel to Mill Field, the ground of Aveley FC, to face Grays Athletic in the Third Qualifying Round. The last time we met Grays was in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round back in October 2006, they were flying high in the Conference Premier while we were heading for promotion vis the play offs from Ryman League Premier Division. Amazingly that  day we beat a team containing a number of players who now play in the premier & football league by two goals to one, thanks to a brace from Lloyd Blackman.   

Circumstances have changed since then, with Grays having lost their own ground and taken voluntary relegation due to financial problems, they now challenge at the top of the Ryman Premier, while we sit just off the play offs in Conference South. 

It’s hard to call who will be favourites going into the game, Grays are having a good season with Freddie Ladapo in prolific form up front, while The Ravens have indifferent form, but are unbeaten on the road. My money is probably on a replay if we can sort out our defensive issues from set pieces and get the ball to our forwards in good areas.