4thmay05

Winner takes all

MARK WATSON is desperate for his former club to win their Ryman League Division One Play-off Final at Horsham on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 31-year-old target man headed a dramatic equaliser with only three minutes of extra time remaining for Metropolitan Police on Tuesday night after Bromley took the lead through Colin Luckett's 96th minute penalty.

A tense game throughout, Bromley are now only one win away from playing Ryman Premier League football in August, after winning 4-3 on penalties.

Despite Steve Potterill having his penalty saved by Police goalkeeper Stuart McKenzie, Fraser Logan, Luckett, Allan Mcleod and Tutu Henriques held their nerve for the Kent side.

However, Andy Walker, the Bromley goalkeeper, saved Kevin Cooper's first penalty and Byron Brown's effort but the highly rated stopper was beaten by Ian Batten, Craig Brown and Watson.

But Watson - who scored ten career goals for Bromley after signing from Lewes in March 2004, wants to see the Hayes Lane outfit secure promotion on Saturday.

Speaking about his former team mates, who are unbeaten in ten games, Watson said: "I've still got a few people who I speak to here that are good friends and obviously I'm going to wish them luck.

"I've got no ill-feeling towards the players and the fans that have supported me and wished me the best.

"Fate will deal its hand and if Bromley get through, it will be deserved because obviously they've done it."

Watson, however, was pleased he headed the Blues' equaliser to take the game to a penalty shoot-out.

"It's always sweet to score a goal to be honest with you," said the Cheam based player.  "I think the Bromley fans have obviously got a dislike to me for some reason, so you just get on with it,"

And why is that, Mark? "I've got no idea to be honest with you," he replied.

"I quite enjoyed my time here," he added.  "I thought when I first came I did quite well for the club but it didn't really work out during the start and middle of this season really due to injuries and lack of matches but such is life.

"You've got to get on with it and I'm sure I'm not the only person to return to their old club and get booed."

Watson admitted his team-mates were disappointed losing the game on penalties.  "We're disappointed but not disappointed with the way we played, just disappointed with the result," he admits.  "I think the manner of the result - we don't mind if we lose to a goal from open play or something like that - but we've got to live with it now, it's over and there's nothing we can do about it."

The former Sutton United and West Ham striker is keeping his options open for next season.  "Basically I don't know what's going to happen," he said.  "I really cant tell the future.  I live in Cheam, so it's not too far from Met Police's ground.  Obviously you have to weigh up things and see what happens in the summer."

Bromley midfielder, Danny Carroll, is expecting another battle at Queen Street on Saturday - in a winner takes all clash.

"It's a big game - of course we can handle the pressure," he insisted.

The 28-year-old has played in some big games himself, playing for clubs like Stevenage Borough, Farnborough Town and Crawley Town - and so has former Kingstonian star Colin Luckett and one other.  "Adam Locke has played 350 games, playing in front of 20,000 fans at Bristol City every week, so what's this to him?

"Horsham will be confident, we'll be confident." Carroll said.

Carroll was, and still is, a cult hero with the Hayes Lane faithful during his first spell with the club when he was younger and jumped at the chance to rejoin the club when he made the switch with George Wakeling in December.

Meanwhile, due to limited car parking at the ground, and with a high crowd expected, the car park at the ground will close at 2:15pm.  Fans are advised to use town centre car parking facilities, which are situated five minutes away from the ground.

Horsham v Bromley
Ryman League Division One Play-off Final
Saturday 7th May 2005
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Queen Street, Horsham