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Bromley chairman, Jerry Dolke announced
after the game that Alan Walker, former manager of Tonbridge Angels has left the
club.
Dolke said: "We had our differences and both parties agree to part company
amicably at an early stage."
Walker, 44, lasted only four games in charge at Bromley. In his first game Bromley put on an entertaining Boxing Day show against local rivals, Dulwich Hamlet in a thrilling 2-2 draw before three points at Molesey followed in a 2-1 victory on New Year’s Day.
However, a 1-1 midweek draw at Whyteleafe and a 3-1 home defeat to Horsham, in front of 262 long suffering fans forced Bromley chairman, Jerry Dolke to take swift action in an attempt to save their season.
Walker was Bromley’s fourth manager of the season. The Ravens started the campaign with popular Scot, Stuart McIntyre, but after two years at the helm he shocked the club by resigning in October.
His assistant, Eddie Saunders, lasted only 45 days in charge before Dolke, with assistance from experienced midfielder, John Myatt and goalkeeping coach, Derek Parnham took charge of three games (including a 2-1 win at Horsham in December) before the managerial reigns were taken by Alan Walker, who had led Tonbridge Angels to the top of the Dr Martens League Eastern Division before leaving Longmead Stadium to take over at Hayes Lane before Christmas.
Walker’s departure has also meant, Peter Overton, Sam Tydeman and Andy Larkin, players he brought with him from Tonbridge Angels, have also been released.
Dean Forbes, who played for the Angels in their 3-1 win at Banbury United, will skipper the Bromley side for the mouth-watering Kent Senior Cup Quarter Final clash against Tonbridge Angels at Hayes Lane on Tuesday night.
John Butler, Paul Vines and Grant Watts, who were sent to Dr Martens League Eastern Division side Dartford by Walker will also feature for Bromley in the county cup clash. But Jason McKoy who was recently released by Walker, will need to re-sign for Bromley before he can wear the black and white striped shirt of the Ravens again.
Bromley
got off a to a bright start against Horsham and from the second corner of the
game, from Sam Tydeman, Bobby George rose with visiting goalkeeper, Luke Burton,
but headed wide of the right post.
Bromley took the lead after seven minutes. Left back, Colin Luckett clipped the ball into space down the left channel for Adolph Amoako to run into. His pace left John Kirby for dead outside the penalty area and once inside the area he shot across the face of goal with his right foot. Bobby George followed up at the near post to fire Bromley into a deserved lead.
But
the lead lasted only two minutes as David Fleming cut the ball back to Carlo
Castrechino on the right and his cross was headed by Gary Charman and dropped
into the bottom right corner of Andy Hunt’s net.
Moments
later, Lee Carney dragged a 30 yard shot wide of Bromley’s left post, before
Bromley winger, Mark Hammond took on the visiting defence before hitting a high
shot over the bar from 22 yards on the right hand side of the penalty area.
Bromley
midfielder, John Wilfort saw his powerful shot blocked inside the penalty area
but he was awarded a free kick after he was fouled when striking the ball.
Facing a four man wall, Luckett’s free kick from 23 yards was deflected
wide of the left upright.
Luckett
was beaten by Fleming before the experienced striker rolled the ball narrowly
wide of the left post a minute before Horsham took the lead on the half an hour
mark.
Carney’s
long cross from the right went over Charman, but he retrieved the ball on the
left touch-line. He composed
himself before crossing for Andy Walker to slid the ball into the bottom far
corner of Bromley’s net to score from 15 yards.
Hayes
Lane was now silenced and with eleven minutes before the interval, George’s
flicked header from Danny Smith’s cross was well wide of the left post from 12
yards.
Another
Carney cross from the right cut out Andy Larkin and allowed Charman to head wide
of the left post before Hammond’s low pile driver was comfortably saved by
Burton at his near post before an unmarked George headed Hammond’s cross over
the bar ten yards from goal.
Horsham
wrapped up the three points within 31 seconds after the interval.
Bromley failed to set an offside trap and Charman on the left hand side of
the penalty area, easily ran into the area before placing a right footed shot
past an exposed Hunt and into the bottom far corner of the net.
Amoako
was held 28 yards from goal after 53 minutes but Burton made a comfortable save
from Hammonds’ free kick.
Bromley
briefly came to life on the hour mark when Amoako headed wide of the right post
before the long suffering fans hurled abuse at Walker as he replaced Hammond, an
outlet for crosses throughout the game, for fans favourite, target-man, Wade
Falana.
With
12 minutes remaining, Wilfort’s volley screamed wide of the right post and
another Amoako header was headed away from inside the six yard area before
Falana could pull a goal back for the home side.
Charman
was denied a well-deserved hat-trick with five minutes remaining when Hunt dived
to his left to push out the shot.
Bromley’s X-rated showing was complete inside injury time, and with many off the home fans making their way home, George beat the defence and as the goalkeeper came off his line, slammed the shot against right upright when it was easier to score.
Making only his fifth start of the season, Bromley goalkeeper, Andy Hunt said: “I think it was disappointing today, we didn’t play as well today. I do think there was a little bit of effort lacking in a few bits and pieces.
“However, I felt I did all right. We gave away three bad goals today, we had the ball on all occasions and it was sloppy defending that cost us today.
“It was a bad day all round and very disappointing.
“I think it’s a perfect situation against Tonbridge Angels. People are playing for places and people know they have to perform to stay in the side now. I think it’s a perfect opportunity to go out onto the pitch, play well and we can bounce back and get a result.”
Former Tonbridge Angels boss, Walker wasn't at all happy with the players performance. Speaking forty-five minutes after the game, and before his departure, Walker said: " "As far as I’m concerned I think we were second best all around the pitch. I can’t name one player who won his personal battle and that’s not something I will settle for.
“I can forgive players for getting beaten by a better side, but I don’t think Horsham were a better side.
“I’ve been here since before Christmas, and I’ve brought in three new players. At the moment the team isn’t gelling. Up until today we’ve done ok, 2 draws and a win, but we still haven’t played well, in any of the games. It was embarrassing at times, and once they go over that white line there is nothing I can do about it. You tinker with formations and positions, but I am still finding out who can do what and where.
“I just think the players showed not enough commitment for the club.
“It’s getting very serious – I’ve taken it seriously from the minute I’ve got here. It’s a new club, and I am new to the players. It’s getting to know eachother and the standards we all require. To be fair, up until today, I’ve been impressed by the players attitude’s but today they let themselves down, obviously they have let the club, the chairman and the fans down.
“We didn’t deserve anything from the game today, as far as I’m concerned."
Bromley:
Andy Hunt, Danny Smith (Capt), Michael Harney, Andy Larkin, Colin Luckett, Peter
Overton, Sam Tydeman (John Myatt 54), Mark Hammond (Wade Falana 63), Bobby
George, Adolph Amoako, John Wilfort. Subs: Steve Potterill, Danny Harwood
(GK)
Horsham: Luke Burton, Matt Ottley, Stuart Hardy, Eddie French (Capt), John
Kirby, Tom Graves, Lee Carney (Jason Kuska 75), Carlo Castrechino, David
Fleming, Andy Walker, Gary Charman. Subs: Rhod Davis, Simon Berry, David
Soutar, Ian Chatfield (Capt).
Referee: Mr I Gosling
Assistants: Mr P Andrews and Mr R Woods
Attendance:
262
I would like to put on record that Alan Walker wasn't sacked by Bromley Football Club, as the original article stated, but "agreed to part company amicably" with the club following Saturday's game against Horsham. I would like to aplogise to Mr Walker and the club for any embarrassment caused stating the wrong facts.