BOBBY GEORGE HITS THE BULLSEYE FOR BROMLEY

Bromley retain Wembley Cup…But Ryman League is main prize

Tuesday 12 August 2003
WEMBLEY CUP
ROMFORD                          1-2          BROMLEY
Michael Daniels 82                             Grant Watts 59 Pen
                                                          Bobby George 80

Report by Stephen McCartney of www.kentishfootball.co.uk

The last time Bromley played in Essex, it was at Victoria Road, the home of Dagenham & Redbridge, in April's final of the prestigious London Senior Cup.

Kirk Watts, 21^st minute strike helped Bromley to bring home the trophy for the first time since 1951, beating Ford United 1-0.

Tonight, Bromley played Romford, ironically at the Ford Sports Ground, in Rush Green Road, and retained the annual Wembley Cup.

Bromley manager Stuart McIntyre, brought a twenty man squad for their final pre-season friendly. 

And on this showing, Bromley proved they are ready for Saturday’s opening Ryman League Division One South encounter at Croydon.

Romford’s Lee Fulling had the first shot on goal, shooting over Danny Harwood’s crossbar before Romford goalkeeper Robin Ruston was tested by former Wimbledon winger, Bobby Nolan’s rasping volley after four minutes.

Two speculative shots from both sides almost broke the deadlock.  Danny Benstock hooked a shot narrowly over the far post before Bromley central defender, Joe Vines, back from a short holiday, punted a sixty yard free kick into Ruston’s grateful arms.

Romford appealed for a 33^rd minute penalty when seventeen year old defender, John Butler, who keeps improving his game, chested Benstock’s shot from an acute angle on the goal-line, after goalkeeper Harwood was caught in no-mans land inside his penalty area.

A minute after Vines was replaced by Dean Forbes, who along with Tony Reid and Bobby George were late in arriving to the ground, Benstock shot over Harwood’s bar from 22 yards.

Good build up play from Amoako and Grant Watts saw Nolan and Kirk Watts test Ruston with accurate shots on goal. 

Following his release from Nationwide Conference new-boys Aldershot Town, former Cray Wanderers midfielder, Mark Hammond, came on as substitute, and played his usual game with some good crosses into the Romford penalty area.

Bromley took the lead after 59 minutes when Kirk Watts, ran across the face of the penalty area before he was hauled down. 

Up stepped his older brother, Grant, to place the penalty to a motionless goalkeeper’s left giving Bromley the lead.

Bromley grew in confidence and played their passing academy football, on a rutted pitch, their football a joy to watch.

Substitute Reid shot wide of the far post when the goal was at his mercy.

But Bromley added their second goal ten minutes before time.  Mark Willy played a delightful long ball for Bobby George whose pace beat the Romford back-line.  He cut inside the goalkeeper and rolled the ball towards the far post.  The shot had enough pace on it to creep inside the far post.

Two minutes later, Romford scored from a well taken strike from Michael Daniels, a low strike inside the bottom far corner of Harwood’s net.

Giant goalkeeper Rob O’Hara replaced Harwood immediately after the goal and was tested with a couple of late Romford efforts.

Bromley whet the appetite of their supporters with their first piece of silverware in the trophy cabinet this season.  After winning the London Senior Cup at the end of last season, the Ravens will be going for their main prize, success in the Ryman League Division One South.

Romford: (Starting eleven):  Robin Ruston, Jamie Wakem, George Alder, Micky Rogan, Brian Suchley, Mark Lord, James Cole, James Gill, Kevin Clark, Danny Benstock, Lee Fulling

Bromley:  Danny Harwood (Rob O’ Hara 82), Steve Potterill, Tommy Ellis (Paul Kember 52), Joe Vines (Dean Forbes 36), Mark Willy, John Butler (Danny Smith 63) , Bobby Nolan (Mark Hammond 52), Joe Wade (Jason McKoy 52) , Adolph Amoako (Bobby George 67), Grant Watts (Tony Reid 59), Kirk Watts (David Smith 76)

BROMLEY FOOTBALL CLUB FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

Saturday 16 August    3.00    Croydon        vs        Bromley

Tuesday 19 August    7.45    Bromley         vs        Lewes

Saturday 23 August    3.00    Bromley        vs        Molesey

Monday 25 August     3.00    Ashford Town (Middlesex) vs  Bromley

All Ryman League Division One South fixtures

Match Report by

Stephen McCartney

Editor of

www.kentishfootball.co.uk