9thfeb04

Monday 09th February 2004

Week of destiny for Bromley
Bromley's 3-1 victory at Metropolitan Police on Saturday has put Bromley in a very healthy position in the Ryman League Division One South table, writes Stephen McCartney.

Stuart McIntyre's men are now sitting in seventh place with 48 points from 28 games, and only one point away from that elusive sixth place and promotion back into the top flight of Ryman League football.

The Police, lying 21st in the table took the lead after only 47 seconds however, when Scott Bennetts left wing cross cut out John Butler, who has returned to Bromley after six games for Dr Martens League Dartford, and Colin Luckett and striker Chris Rose slotted home past goalkeeper Danny Harwood.

Bromley drew level after seven minutes when Harwood's clearance was headed by Wade Falana with the ball dropping for Mark Hammond. His right wing cross from the right caught experienced Metropolitan Police goalkeeper Stuart MacKenzie in two minds and Adolph Amoako scored from four yards.

Amoako doubled his and Bromley's account after fourteen minutes to score his 18th goal of the season. Colin Luckett's free kick was won in the air by Falana and the ball dropped for Amoako to hook the ball into the net.

Bromley wrapped up the three points, scoring their third goal, seven seconds from the allotted 45 minutes remaining. Jason McKoy's cross into the penalty area was dropped by MacKenzie and Falana capitalised on the mistake by firing inside the near post from an acute angle.

The Police threw everything at Bromley throughout the second half and Jon Daly headed against the crossbar just before the hour. The ball fell for Dave Newman who squandered the opportunity shooting wide of the right post from six yards.

Bromley manager Stuart McIntyre said: "Our 3-1 victory at Metropolitan Police on Saturday was a good victory because we don't have a great history against them."

The victory made up for Bromley's poor showing in the London Senior Cup when the holders surrendered their grasp on the trophy, losing 1-0 at home to Dulwich Hamlet.

Meshach Nugent scored the only goal of the game in the 24th minute after he received the ball from former Bromley player Justin Bowen before the nineteen-year-old striker flicked the ball over advancing goalkeeper Harwood.

McIntyre added: "The London Senior Cup is history now and behind us. The players bounced back from a disappointing game in bad conditions on a heavy pitch. However, we showed at Metropolitan Police that we are getting better and we will continue to get better and work hard."

Slough Town are the visitors to Hayes Lane on Tuesday, and if Bromley beat the Rebels, who are only one place and two points behind them, they will move into the top six. Slough Town, who groundshare Windsor & Eton's Stag Meadow ground beat Bromley 4-2 in November when Eddie Saunders was manager at Hayes Lane following McIntyre's resignation in October.

Bromley have only lost three league games on the road this season, at Windsor & Eton (0-1), Slough Town (2-4) and Worthing (0-2) and skipper John Myatt wants the team's impressive away form to be repeated at Hayes Lane, where they have tasted defeat five times.

Myatt, with 190 Bromley appearances to his name, said: "We have to make Hayes Lane a fortress where teams come to our ground and think it's going to be a hard game. We have proved away from home last year and this year we are a great side as we play with no pressure and we need to do the same again at home and raise our standards a little bit more."

Bromley still have to play each team in the top ten in the Ryman League Division One South table with six games away from home, in what could be the team's key to unlock entry into the "super six" at the end of the season.

Worthing entertain Hednesford Town in the FA Trophy Fourth Round Replay at Woodside Road on Tuesday night, and if the Sussex side are successful, then their trip to Hayes Lane to take on Bromley next Saturday will be postponed.

If Worthing lose to Hednesford Town, then Bromley will take on sixth placed Worthing at Hayes Lane in another crunch promotion battle before Croydon Athletic, currently in ninth place, visit Hayes Lane on Tuesday 17th February (7.45pm).

Central defender Dean Forbes will be returning to Bromley for the Croydon Athletic game after his loan spell in the Dr Martens League for Tonbridge Angels. Eighteen year old central defender, John Butler, is back at Hayes Lane after a six match loan spell for Dartford and slotted in alongside Colin Luckett at Imber Court on Saturday. McIntyre is happy with his current squad of players for the time being.

Admission prices to Hayes Lane are £7 (adults), £4 (OAP's) and £1 (Kids Under 16s).

To advertise here telephone Stephen McCartney 07979 418 360