Bromley 1-0 Worcester City - We're delighted we're in the hat, says Bromley boss Mark Goldberg

Saturday 20th October 2012

BROMLEY 1-0 WORCESTER CITY
The FA Cup with Budweiser Fourth Qualifying Round
Saturday 20^th October 2012
Stephen McCartney reports from Hayes Lane

BROMLEY boss Mark Goldberg says a dogged determination from everybody involved at the club has been the catalyst to qualify for the FA Cup First Round for the fourth time in the last six years.

Goldberg, 49, who guided the Ravens into the First Round last season, before bowing out 3-0 at League One side Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road, had to do it the hard way again after having inspirational central defender Moses Swaibu sent-off for picking up his second booking with fifteen minutes remaining.

But much-travelled striker Richard Pacquette, 29, tucked home a dramatic late winner to give Bromley a deserved win.

Bromley will be ball number 70 in the FA Cup First Round Draw, which will be screened live on ITV at 13:30 tomorrow afternoon.

Goldberg said: “We’re delighted we’re in the hat! We wanted to get the job done today if we could. It took us ninety minutes and with ten men in last ten minutes. I think it makes it even more pleasing.”

Bromley lost their unbeaten home record when they were defeated 2-0 by their Kent rivals Welling United in front of 1,334 fans seven days ago. The Kent side went into the game sitting in sixteenth-place in the Blue Square Bet South table, with a record of three wins and four draws from eleven outings.

And Goldberg admitted: “I thought we started very poorly today, the way that we played last week we almost showed that we haven’t shaken it off yet. However, preparations for this game, we had a really good training session on Tuesday and Thursday and everybody knew what they had to do.

“I think it’s fair to say as the game progressed I thought we were the stronger side and we also created most of the chances from what I remember.”

Worcester City brought with them a vocal travelling contingent and the men in green dominated the early stages in front of a disappointing crowd of 610.

Worcester City, who went into the game sitting in sixth-place in the Blue Square Bet (Conference) North table with five wins and four draws from their eleven games, went close inside the opening five minutes but Tom Thorley, who was enjoying plenty of possession in the middle of the park, curled a right-footed free-kick up and just over the bar from 25-yards.

During a period of Worcester dominance, the visitors’ created another chance when Greg Mills’ right-footed rasping drive on the turn from 30-yards forced Bromley keeper Joe Welch into plucking the ball out of the air above his head.

Bromley’s first chance arrived in the eleventh minute when Ali Fuseini clipped a right-footed free-kick into the penalty area and Elliott Buchanan skied a left-footed shot on the turn high over the bar from 22-yards.

Bromley midfielder, Mike Jones, then played the ball inside to six-goal striker Pierre Joseph-Dubois, who dragged his shot well wide with his right-footed despite being left unmarked some 25-yards from goal.

But Bromley’s only real clear-cut chance of the opening half arrived in the 18^th minute, courtesy of some industry from Jones, a player who was plucked out of Kent League football with Greenwich Borough a couple of years ago.

Jones showed a good pair of feet to skip past three Worcester defenders on the edge of the penalty area before threading the ball through to Pacquette, whose low left-footed shot was blocked by the legs of advancing Worcester keeper Glyn Thompson at his near post.

Worcester City were presented with a decent opportunity on the corner of the Bromley penalty box, but left-back Ellis Deeney skied his left-footed attempt over the Bromley crossbar.

Bromley linked up well with Swaibu, Sanchez Ming and Danny Waldren in the 33^rd minute and Fuseini’s ball over the top put Pacquette in behind the Worcester defence, but despite being put under pressure from Stuart Whitehead’s sliding challenge, the 20-club striker saw his shot sail wide.

But Bromley really should have broken the stalemate within two minutes when Buchanan flicked the ball out to the right to release attacking right-back Ming in behind the Worcester left-back before cutting inside and cutting the ball across goal but Buchanan swept his left-footed hooked shot trickling wide of the post from eight-yards.

Worcester City squandered the first half’s final chance when right-back Tyler Weir was given time and space to float in a cross towards the penalty spot, but an unmarked Danny Glover glanced his header across Welch and wide of the far post.

Reflecting on the first half, Goldberg said: “We didn’t have a lot of chances in the first half. I think as the game went on we managed to get in behind their defence. Sanchez Ming overlapped well, although in the first half I do remember Elliott Buchanan probably had the one chance that he should have done better with. Richard (Pacquette) also the same.”

The home club were forced to turn on their floodlights just before the start of the second half because of the grey skies above Hayes Lane but it appears that Bromley must spark into life before the Bromley faithful get behind their side.

With chants of “come on Bromley,” coming from the north bank, Bromley went close when Liam Harwood pumped a long diagonal ball out of defence to release Buchanan galloping down the right and he played the ball inside to skipper Fuseini, who’s angled right-footed drive from 25-yards, sailed just over the outstretched keeper’s fingertips and also just over the bar.

Buchanan was left unmarked inside the Worcester penalty area but all he could do was send a powerful downward header wide of the left-hand post after Ming picked him out with a floated cross from the right.

But Waldren knew he missed Bromley’s best second half chance in the 56^th minute.

Buchanan’s hooked pass released Ming down the right and he cut inside Deeney to get into the penalty area and he could so easily have stayed on the deck after being tripped by the left-back, but instead of emulating a Premier League footballer, to his credit he got back onto his feet and cut the ball back from the by-line to an unmarked Waldren, who swept his shot across former Newport County keeper Thompson and Pacquette couldn’t apply the finish.

Goldberg said: “Yes, Danny Waldren should have scored!”

Waldren, 23, who lives in Bermondsey and is one of four survivors from last season’s FA Cup First Round appearance, admitted afterwards: “Sanchez has played a great ball to be fair. I think I didn’t catch it the best I could have caught it but I still caught it well enough to be going into the bottom corner. Richard was there. He felt he could take the glory and it’s come off his back foot and gone wide. It happens in football. The main thing at the end of the day is we’ve nicked the one-nil and we’re through to the first round proper.”

Worcester City went even closer after Thorley floated in a free-kick into the centre of the Bromley penalty area but central defender Jacob Rowe sent his towering glancing header sailing narrowly wide of the right-hand post from fourteen-yards.

Worcester City striker Mike Symons latched onto a quickly taken free-kick, but once inside the Bromley penalty area his shot deflected over in the 62^nd minute, before Thorley rolled a free-kick over to Deeney on the left and he had time and space to whip in a cross with his second touch and Rob Elvins’ looping header was comfortably caught by untroubled Welch.

Goldberg voiced his disgust when Swaibu picked up his second yellow card after tripping Worcester substitute Danny Edwards – and after being booked in the 30^th minute for a tackle on Matt Breeze, Worcester’s players showed their experience and surrounded referee Mr Craig Hicks to pressure the Sutton-based official to show Swaibu his second yellow and then a red.

Goldberg said: “I can’t believe he was sent-off! They were weak. It’s not like the referee warned him. It was two fouls, two bookings, a sending-off. It’s ridiculous! I’d like to see whether we can appeal that?

“Obviously now he’s going to be out for the next round. I think he’s going to be absolutely devastated, but let’s see what happens.”

Goldberg, however, pulled off a tactical masterstroke two minutes later when he sacrificed Joseph-Dubois, who wasn’t getting any change out of a solid Worcester back four, and brought on central defender Jerrome Sobers, who was immense.

Goldberg was pleased with Sobers heroic cameo display at the back alongside Harwood.

He said: “He came on and done a great job. Last week he dived in a couple of times and it cost us. He’s a really good stopper. He learnt from last week and he came on and he was immense. He won all his headers, he blocked a few important blocks and that’s kept us in the game.”

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Bromley upped their game and got a shot away on target with less than six minutes remaining.

The impressive Ming burst down the right and played the ball inside to Waldren, who’s right-footed drive from 25-yards, brought a comfortable low save from Thompson.

But Waldren revealed exactly why he wanted to put in that extra mile for his manager.

He said: “I thought it was going to be a nasty away trip on a Monday evening or it’s going to be a loss to be honest, but I just had that feeling inside that I knew if we carried on the way we was playing, grinding it out, we could actually nick a late goal and that’s exactly what we did, so I couldn’t be more proud of the boys, the management, the whole club as a whole. It’s fantastic!

Waldren, who as an east London based removal man is one of very few part-time players at the club, added: “On a personal level the gaffer’s really, really helped me out. We’ve had our times when we’ve been low and things like that and the club wasn’t doing so well, but he has had 100% faith and belief in every player that he’s played under him and massive credit to him. Obviously having a few wins under our belt in the league and this FA Cup run just proves that.

“He’s an unbelievable guy. Some of the words of inspiration he gives in the changing room is fantastic and it really touches my heart and I think it gives me that extra 10-15% to perform a lot better for him. He’s a wonderful guy. On a personal level he’s one of the best guys I know. To play under him is a pleasure.”

Bromley continued to press on the break and following Ming’s throw, Waldren wriggled his way in from the right and laid the ball off to Ming, who lashed his right-footed angled drive over the Worcester penalty area.

But Bromley snatched victory in the 90^th minute, which sent Hayes Lane into party spirit, during an emotional final five minutes that can either make you or break you!

Substitute Tony Finn played the ball in from the right and Fuseini, who had made an tireless run, used his intelligence and experience to play a low pass across the face of goal and an unchallenged Pacquette slid in at the far post and tucked his right-footed shot underneath an exposed Thompson to stab the ball into the back of the net from a couple of yards out.

Goldberg said: “It’s a great move. Ali’s been trying to play the right ball all game and he didn’t do as well as we know he could, but he carried on and carried on.

“He waited for the good ball right at the final minute so that was great and Pacquette was there to tuck it home. Richard does what he does. He scored!”

Despite not having his best of games, former Millwall midfielder Fuseini stepped up to the plate when it really mattered and kept his head up and kept plugging away.

Waldren agreed, saying, “We’ve got the type of player who can produce anything on the day. Even with Ali in the last minute there, if that was anybody else other than Ali I don’t think we would’ve scored because he’s a fantastic player in my opinion. He’s got great vision. He spotted that ball at the back post and he’s played it and Richard’s the right man at the right place at the right time and we’re through.”

The home fans and players all went crazy and the chant of “we’ve only got ten men!” was a little premature as Bromley received the rub-of-the-green twice at the death.

Weir whipped in a cross from the right and Welch punched the ball away but the ball was played to Glover, who drilled a shot just wide.

It was heart in mouths time for Bromley when Glover’s flicked pass put Worcester City substitute Michael Taylor in behind Harwood and the striker, who had scored 41 goals for Midland Combination side Earlswood Town, was through on goal.

With the Bromley faithful expecting a long trip to Worcester City for a Monday night replay – bringing back bad memories of that nightmare Monday night visit to a hostile St George’s Lane back in 1996 for a FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round Replay – time appeared to stand still as everybody expected Taylor to score.

But the combative striker saw the headlines in front of him and inexplicably produced one of the misses of the season, stroking a right-footed shot across the exposed Welch and wide of the foot of the far post.

Referee Mr Hicks blew the final whistle immediately after that miss – it was alleged afterwards that Taylor faced the wrath of his team-mates inside the away dressing room – but there were plenty of high-fives, kisses and tears from the Bromley faithful.

Goldberg admitted he got lucky, saying, “All in all, I don’t remember one real good goalscoring opportunity in the second half for Worcester, other than in the last seconds of the game where everybody’s hearts were in their mouths because they really should have scored!

“Liam Harwood’s allowed them to go through and thank God they missed and we’re in the hat tomorrow.”

When asked how he felt after Taylor’s miss, the Bromley boss replied, “It’s just shocking! It was the most wonderful feeling when I saw that the ball went past the post!”

Goldberg is proud of his record of reaching the FA Cup First Round for the fourth time in six years and when asked what the secret is, he replied, “I think a dogged determination of everybody involved at the club to progress in the FA Cup! It’s so important commercially. I think it’s so important to the chairman and everybody involved upstairs shall we say and the pressure’s on us and thank God we’ve delivered four times out of six.”

Owner, Jerry Dolke, 51, who took charge of the club when it was on its knees back in 2001 when it was struggling towards the bottom of Ryman League Division One, paid tribute to Goldberg for his FA Cup record.

“Mark’s just told me, in the six years’ that we’ve been together that’s the fourth time that we’ve got to the First Round, which is quite an achievement,” said Mr Dolke.

“I think the boys’ showed today is the spirit in the camp, the resolve. We’re down to ten-men and to score against a side of that calibre with ten men and then see the game out, just shows what we’re all about as a side.

“The boys’ have worked a fantastic goal. Ali Fuseini makes a 40-50 yard run and puts the ball in for Richard Pacquette to score a fantastic goal. That was a worked goal and we were doing that throughout the game.”

Reflecting on Taylor’s last-gasp miss, Mr Dolke admitted: “For the lad not even hit the target you see in your mind ‘here we go, they’re going to get an equaliser’ and then he puts it wide! We’re just blessed with that. That’s the good fortune. Do you know what, you earn your good fortune and all the boys actually did that today.”

When asked who he would like to face in the FA Cup First Round in two weeks’ time, Mr Dolke replied: “I just want to be drawn at home. I just want to get a home game. You know what if we could get either a Football League club here with the potential TV opportunities then fantastic. If not, I’d like a side, if there’s any in the lower level, at home. That will do me.”

Waldren added: “You don’t mind having a fairly reasonable team at home to try and progress through to the next round, but this is the FA Cup, there’s no easy games whether you’re at home or away. It’s whoever fancies it on the day.

“Obviously getting a big club away like Portsmouth or Sheffield United or something like that would be brilliant but at the same time whoever we get we still have got to do a professional job.”

Bromley have not beaten a Football League club in The FA Cup in their 102-year history in the competition.

And Bromley’s third and last appearance in the Second Round came back in 1945-46 and since then they have suffered nine successive First Round exits.

Goldberg revealed he will be enjoying watching tomorrow’s draw with his family, anticipating which club ball number 70 will be paired with.

He said: “We’re looking forward to it. I hope we don’t get Hastings because my son (Bradley) is also in the hat tomorrow for Hastings. We’re going to have a family dinner tomorrow. It’s his nineteenth-birthday tomorrow and we’ll be watching the TV together. He’s scored seven goals in the FA Cup so far this season.

“I think I’d like a big club but at the same time I think I’d like to progress this year so I think maybe I’ll be happy if we get any team at home.

“If don’t mind if we’d get a home game. I think we can maybe get a result.

“Bromley-versus-Hastings? I hope not!”

Bromley: Joe Welch, Sanchez Ming, Marlon Patterson, Ali Fuseini, Moses Swaibu, Liam Harwood, Danny Waldren, Mike Jones (Michael Malcolm 58), Pierre Joseph-Dubois (Jerrome Sobers 77), Richard Pacquette, Elliott Buchanan (Tony Finn 66).
Subs: George Howard, Aaron Rhule, Michael Boateng, Ian Daly.

Goal: Richard Pacquette 90

Booked: Moses Swaibu 30, Liam Harwood 70

Sent Off: Moses Swaibu 75

Worcester City: Glyn Thompson, Tyler Weir, Ellis Deeney, Tom Thorley, Stuart Whitehead, Jacob Erskine, Matt Breeze, Rob Elvins, Mike Symons (Danny Edwards 74), Danny Glover, Greg Mills (Michael Taylor 87).
Subs: Matt Birley, Lee Ayers, Dan Polan, Shabir Khan

Booked: Stuart Whitehead 44, Ellis Deeney 72

Attendance: 610
Referee: Mr Craig Hicks (Sutton, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr Mark Engelbreston (Uxbridge, Middlesex) & Mr Oliver Roguez (London E14)
Fourth Official: Mr Dale Sotimirin (London SW9)