We asked match day announcer Matt Hall for an update from the National League on how our ‘Grass Roots’ team for the season Bromley have got on since he last spoke to us.
Since I last wrote, things have very much been up and down for Bromley, arguably the surprise package of the National League this season, sitting in sixth place.
Last month I previewed Non-League Day and what a day it turned out to be. In front of a crowd of nearly 2,500, the Ravens cruised to a 5-0 win over visiting side Barrow with speculative goals from Anthony Cook and Louis Dennis adding a bit of gloss to the scoreline. Further strikes from Jack Holland, top scorer Moses Emmanuel and Reece Prestedge made up the numbers as Bromley sent shockwaves up and down the league.
However, the following Tuesday evening saw us crash back down to earth as a Cheltenham Town side who sat second in the table at that point, took all three points from Hayes Lane after an injury time winner from Asa Hall. The match was very much a stalemate until the final ten minutes or so when Billy Waters’ shot on the turn put Town 1-0 up, only for an Anthony Cook penalty to level things up with two minutes to play. Unfortunately, a momentary lapse in concentration from the Bromley defence proved pivotal, as Hall fired in from inside the penalty area with just two minutes of injury time left.
A trip to another former Football League club followed, this time in the form of Aldershot Town. After a good start by the Ravens in front of a healthy crowd, it was in fact the home side who would take the lead. Charlie Walker’s long range shot took a wicked deflection and wrong-footed goalkeeper Chris Kettings to give Aldershot the advantage. Just just five minutes later, the visitors were level. A pinpoint cross from Ugo Udoji’s was met by the head of makeshift centre forward Jack Holland, whose bullet like effort gave former Bromley goalkeeper Phil Smith absolutely no chance. Despite some drama late in the second half, with Town being reduced to ten men and Bromley having a late goal line scramble, the score remained 1-1, perhaps a fair result on the balance of play in both halves.
The next two matches would very much be the contrast of pain and joy in football. The former, coming in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round against league rivals Eastleigh, who had a terrific away record so far during the season, perhaps a bad omen for Bromley.
The Hampshire outfit were ahead just three minutes in, as Yemi Odubade nodded in a whipped cross which had been headed back across goal into his path, as Bromley found difficulty settling into the match. Bromley got level thanks to Louis Dennis, after the winger turned his man and surged into the penalty area, before unleashing a powerful shot from an angle into the roof of the net.
It was on cruel terms that Bromley once again found themselves behind, as Jai Reason’s thirty yard cross was misjudged by on loan Palace goalkeeper Chris Kettings, who had been faultless until that point, and agonisingly bounced into the back of the net. The score-line remained at 1-2 and Eastleigh progressed to the first round, where they were drawn away to League One basement side Crewe Alexandra, eventually pulling off an upset and winning 1-0.
The next fixture, away to Lincoln City, was a complete contrast of emotions to that of the previous week. In an end to end match, where Kettings kept Bromley in it at times, Moses Emmanuel’s laste strike ended Lincoln’s unbeaten run at home this season, and sent Bromley away with a valuable three points.
There was over a week before the Ravens’ next game, as FA Cup weekend followed, of which Bromley were no longer part. Boreham Wood were the next oppositon, visiting Hayes Lane on 10th November. A very makeshift Bromley eleven appeared on the team sheets prior to kick off, with TEN (I kid you not) fist team players out with injuries or suspension.
It was a tough start to the game, as the Wood went 2-0 up inside twelve minutes thanks to a brace from Luke Howell. Moses Emmanuel once again came up with the goods and reduced the deficit on just before the break, but after sheer domination of the second half and a very high percentage of possession, the home side were unable to find the all important equaliser. It was a chance missed to go third in the table, eventually slipping to sixth, but still an incredible achievement so far this season.
Our next match is the LIVE BT SPORT TELEVISED MATCH on Saturday against Altrincham at Hayes Lane, kick off at 12:30pm. Feel free to pop along to the game or tune in, you may even see or hear me!
