Bromley 1-0 Dartford - We had to remove a certain element from the club, says Mark Goldberg

Bromley finished in a disappointing 15^th place in the Conference South last season, the second successive campaign that the club had been fighting against the drop.

But clinical Bromley punished their profligate Conference Premier opponents when former Dartford striker Jay May, 29, scored the only goal of the game during the second half at Hayes Lane.

But Dartford, who were the highest ranked part-time club in the Conference Premier when they finished in eighth-place last season, squandered numerous first half chances to claim the victory that they deserved.

Dartford boss Tony Burman rued his side’s missed chances for their second successive pre-season defeat, after losing 4-0 at home to Reading in midweek.

“It was a good work out for us,” said Burman.

“I thought first half we was excellent. I thought we were really, really good. I thought we played, created a load of chances. Unfortunately we never put the ball in the back of the net, but having said that I thought some of the play for 45 minutes was superb.”

Burman added: “Second half we complicated the game a little bit. We stopped to pass the ball. We went long and it wasn’t affective but as people got tired the intelligence in our play disappeared. They (my players) worked hard but second half was a little bit disappointing after the way we played first half.”

When asked whether this result of losing to a lower league side was important, Burman replied, “No! Not at all! It can help. Obviously we didn’t want to lose.  In context of the game the first half performance I want to get for 90 minutes and on other days if we would’ve scored three or four in the first half, I don’t think anyone could’ve argued.”

Bromley boss Goldberg agreed with what his opposite number and used a famous old cliché to describe the game.

“I think it’s fair to say the old cliché of a game of two halves, it was definitely that today,” admitted Goldberg.

“First half they dominated the midfield and they had the majority of the goalscoring opportunities, but our back four showed a lot of resilience in the first half.

“We were very fortunate to come in and have an opportunity to regroup and put things right in the second half but we certainly put things right in the second half!”

Goldberg was also asked whether results are important at this time of the year.

“They are really. They’re not and they are,” he said.  “When you win they’re important, when you lose you say they’re not important. We want to win every game and I want to learn from everything.  Today we won and we learnt. I’d rather lose and learn than live in a dream world so the answer really is the most important thing is to learn in pre-season, not the result, but it’s nice to win.”

Dartford’s first chance arrived after only 110 seconds when central midfielder Elliot Bradbrook swept a free-kick out to Lee Noble and the left-winger cut inside and sprayed the ball over to right-back Lee Burns, who took a couple of touches before unleashing a right-footed drive from 30-yards, which sailed wide of the far post.

Dartford’s summer signing, Jason Prior, 24, glanced his near post header wide of the post from six-yards after right-winger Ryan Hayes cut in on to his lethal left-foot and whipped in a trademark cross from the right.

Bromley created a half-chance when left-back Steven Smith floated over a free-kick towards the edge of the Dartford penalty area and an unmarked Danny Waldren planted his header wide of the far post from 20-yards.

Bromley should have done better following a tenth-minute corner which was swung in from the right by Elliott Buchanan and the ball dropped to central defender Jack Holland, but he blasted over his right-footed shot on the turn from ten-yards out.

Dartford wasted another chance when Noble delivered a right-footed free-kick towards the far post where Bradbrook rose in a crowded penalty area to glance his header sailing past the post.

Bromley’s best chance of the first half, however, finally arrived in the 16^th minute when skipper Waldren clipped his right-footed free-kick over the five-man wall from 22-yards, which forced former Newport County keeper Alan Julian to dive to his right to tip the shot around the post.

When asked about Waldren’s attempt, Goldberg admitted he wasn’t happy that this was his side’s only real clear-cut chance of the first half.

He said: “But it was limited in the first half. I wasn’t happy with the way we played. We held on to the ball too much in the middle of the park. We’ve been working on moving it quicker. We also didn’t control the middle of the park in terms of the work ethic. We were a bit slow to every ball. We didn’t win the second ball in the first half.

“But second half we put that right,” added Goldberg. “The football started to come and more pace out wide as well. The pace of Brendan (Kiernan), Jordan Clarke and Warren McBean just complimented Jay May and everybody had a game today as well, which was great so it was a very successful afternoon.”

Dartford continued their dominance and following a clever free-kick routine involving Hayes and Noble, Hayes swept the ball over to James Rogers on the other side of the pitch and the left-back played the ball inside to Prior who teed up an unmarked Bradbrook, who fluffed his chance and stroked his left-footed shot over from 18-yards.

Bromley received their first slice of luck in the game at the half-way mark when Hayes whipped in a cross from the right, which sailed over George Howard’s head and the unmarked Noble hooked a first time shot which bounced off the keepers chest for him to make a block when positioned in the right place at the right time.

Bradbrook played Prior through on goal who danced past Bromley right-back Dean Pooley before clipping a left-footed shot which was caught by Howard at his near post.

Dominant Dartford squandered an excellent chance to break Bromley’s resilience in the 35^th minute following a breakaway involving strikers Danny Harris and Prior, who laid the ball off to midfielder Max Cornhill, who had time and space to stroke his right-footed shot straight into Howard’s gloves from 22-yards.

The half-time whistle saw a change in fortunes for these two Kent clubs as Bromley, who had a stronger bench, came out of their shell, while Dartford wilted during the second half due to the lack of strength in depth.

Goldberg brought on a couple of substitutions at the break and Burman explained why he didn’t make any changes until later on in the half.

“We created a lot (of chances) but we didn’t put the ball in the back of the net and that’s what we should’ve done,” bemoaned Burman.  “It’s not a major concern in these games but it will be once we start the season. 

“It’s another good work out for us and we had a lot more of the ball today than what we’ve had in the last three games.

“I wanted the guys who started to get 70 minutes in under their belts, most of them and that’s what we planned and that’s what we did. A few of them did a bit longer than 70 minutes but because of the weather the way it’s been today, it got a bit warm second half. Having said that the guys I thought hit a little bit of a wall in all honesty and that’s probably because of the work that they’ve done in the first half.”

The introduction of striker Warren McBean ten minutes into the half was the inspiration that Bromley needed and impressive wingers Brenda Kiernan and Jordan Clarke gave a tiring Dartford problems with their pace.

McBean used his strength to hold off two Dartford defenders inside the penalty area before laying the ball off to Smith, who cracked a left-footed drive from 20-yards, which screamed narrowly wide of the far post with Julian diving across his goal to his left.

Bromley created another chance when former Margate full-back Pooley played a free-kick into the penalty box and McBean’s movement saw the striker fashion himself a chance, turning before driving his shot across the Dartford keeper and past the far post from a tight angle.

Bromley made the breakthrough and snatched the winning goal in the 64^th minute when May finished off a three-man move.

Kiernan whipped in a cross from the right which fell at McBean’s feet inside the box and he flicked the ball on, which took a lucky defection off Dartford defender Matt Fry and bounced into May’s path.  The striker snatched at the shot and drilled a low right-footed shot from eight-yards across Julian and the ball nestled inside the bottom far corner.

Goldberg was pleased that the Dartford-born target-man has got on the scoresheet as he bids to enjoy a far happier second spell at Hayes Lane.

“I’m really pleased with Jay because he’s doing the hold-up play well and he’s winning every header,” said Goldberg. “We just need to anticipate him winning headers better. I think we can get in behind (defences) quite a lot if we can anticipate if he’s going to win the ball and we get there first.  His play on the ground has been good and I thought he deserved a goal.

“He needs good players around him as well and if we put enough pace around him then he’s going to be very dangerous for us.”

Goldberg was pleased that McBean got through 35 minutes as he improves his fitness following a long-term injury last season.

“It’s wonderful because his movement was exceptional today,” said Goldberg.

“He found pockets all the time and when he gets on the ball he’s able to create a little bit more space for himself and he’s playing as a team rather than just an individual and that’s the new Warren McBean.

“I think he was close (to scoring) today, a couple of times if he had connected a little bit better he would’ve scored.  I’m convinced that Warren McBean is going to score goals.

“I’m also really pleased with (former Southend United striker) Shamir Mullings as well.  All the new boys coming in have done exceptionally well.”

Reflecting on the winning goal, Burman said: “I think it ricochet of one of our players first though before it went to Jay, so that was a little bit of good fortune they had and if we would’ve had that bit of good fortune then we might have put a couple of chances in.

“Jay’s a good lad and he’s done well for us (in the past). I think he’s a good signing for Bromley and we’ll see what happens.”

Another chance fell Bromley’s way when Clarke cut inside from the left and passed the ball to Smith, who floated in a cross but McBean’s rolled his left-footed shot on the turn wide of the right-hand post.

Dartford were desperately unlucky not to restore parity when they hit the crossbar with nineteen minutes remaining.

Bradbrook picked the ball up inside Bromley’s half of the pitch and clipped a perfect diagonal pass into the feet of substitute Lanre Azeez, 20, and the former Ebbsfleet United midfielder cut in to the penalty area and Howard did well to tip the right-footed shot onto his crossbar.

Goldberg said: “It was too easy. I think it came from our right-back position. We were caught because we were going gung-ho forward and I think we got exposed.  I think Alex Bentley got a little touch, a little foot on it as well, which deflected and the keeper just managed to put it on to the bar.”

Howard has been called upon because highly-rated number one stopper Joe Welch is suffering with a back injury.

Goldberg said: “George has been excellent for us, but I think it wouldn’t have been deserved really in the end. I think we deserved the win.

“If we have to start the season with George I never thought I’d be so confident with George. I knew he could do it on a one-off game and he’s proven that last year three or four times and in the London Cup he did exceptionally well didn’t he, all the way through (to winning the trophy) and now it looks like he’s consistently performing very well so really he deserves to play first team football but Joe was player-of-the-year last year and he’s an immense goalkeeper so let’s see how things go, but George definitely deserves to play first team football somewhere.”

Alex Bentley performed well at left-back when he turned out for Cray Wanderers before his one-season move to AFC Hornchurch, an ill-fated move because the Essex side suffered relegation from Conference South after one season back at that level.

Goldberg explained why he slotted Bentley in at right-back and that his place in the team could be at risk.

“Well, I don’t think we know his best position at the moment to be honest with you,” he said.   “I’ve got Joe Anderson and I’ve got Steve Smith. I’m very blessed with left-sided players and Dean Pooley has come in and done an exceptional job at right-back. Alex is fighting for his position at the moment, but we’ll see how things go.”

Burman said: “I’m disappointed as much as we created chances first half, we didn’t do that second half. That’s because we decided to complicate things on the pitch. We went too long and we didn’t play second half to be fair so that’s disappointing.  We’ve hit the bar and not scored the goal.”

Bromley created the last chance in the game when Kiernan whipped in a corner from the right and Holland rose at the near post to glance his header wide of the far post.

Dartford finished the game with a young team on the pitch, with only Burns, Rogers and Nathan Collier completing the 90 minutes.

Burman praised the versatile Collier, 27, who was drafted into the heart of defence owing to hamstring injuries to Kenny Clarke and Tyrone Sterling.

The Darts boss said: “He had a job for us today. We just tried it and he did alright.  Nathan plays up front, plays wide right, plays right-back.  With Kenny Clarke and Tyrone carrying a couple of injuries we asked him to go and play there and he did alright.”

For Bromley, keeper Howard and the two central defenders, Rob Swaine and Jack Holland completed the 90 minutes and Goldberg was pleased that his trailists’ have given him food for thought.

“I think it’s a nice position to be in where I’ve got so many players that are challenging for positions but with a very positive attitude this year,” said Goldberg.

When asked whether he knows his starting eleven for the Conference South opener away to Hayes & Yeading in four weeks’ time, Goldberg said: “I’ve got 22 (players) now, we’ll probably end up with 20. I’ve got an idea of my starting 11 but as of today it’s an amazing thing about pre-season games that you see different things. My mind has changed from this morning to this afternoon.

“I don’t want to be fighting any relegation battle this year so let’s see whether we can progress further than that and that will be a bonus.

“We had to remove a certain element from the dressing room last year.  It’s fair to say the dressing room is full of excellent attitudes this year and sometimes that makes up for technically brilliant individuals.  Having a better team spirit and attitude from players who want to listen and learn and I think we’ve got all of that this year so we stand a good chance this year as long as we keep the squad together.”

Meanwhile, attacker Uche Ibemere, who impressed when playing Kent League football for promoted runners-up VCD Athletic last season, is vying for a place in Burman’s squad for the season ahead.

Burman said: “I’ve watched him a couple of times, he’s got something that’s for sure and he’s played against three pro side and it’s difficult for him and it’s good for him to do that, so we wanted to give him a chance against Bromley.

“He’s come on and done a couple of nice touches and if he hadn’t been brought down he might have gone through. He’s a young lad that’s learning and he’s done alright for us.”

When asked about squad numbers, Burman replied, “We’ve got fourteen at the moment. I think I need another four in. Hopefully at least one will be done this week and we’ll see what happens.”

Bromley: George Howard, Dean Pooley (Alex Bentley 62), Steven Smith (Reece Hall 76), Danny Waldren (Mike Jones 58), Rob Swaine, Jack Holland, Pierre Joseph-Dubois (Jordan Clarke 54), Ashley Nicholls (Joe Anderson 46), Shamir Mullings (Warren McBean 55), Jay May (Thomas O’Connor 71), Elliott Buchanan (Brendan Kiernan 46).

Goal: Jay May 64

Dartford: Alan Julian (Tom Wellman 76), Lee Burns, James Rogers, Matt Fry (Ronnie Vint 86), Nathan Collier, Max Cornhill (George Monger 86), Ryan Hayes (Mohamed Eisa 78), Lee Noble (Lanre Azeez 70), Jason Prior, Elliot Bradbrook (Bode Anidugbe 86), Danny Harris (Uche Ibemere 58).

Attendance: 300
Referee:  Mr Ian Bentley (West Wickham)
Assistants: Mr Alexis Stacchini (Orpington) & Mr Valentine Anekwe (Bromley
Fourth Official: Mr Aji Ajibola (Erith)