BROMLEY ON THE ORIENT: THANK YOU FOR YOUR FANTASTIC SUPPORT, SAYS DANNY WALDREN

BROMLEY midfielder Danny Waldren paid tribute to the fans’ who travelled to Leyton Orient to witness the club’s 3-0 defeat in the FA Cup First Round yesterday, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Blue Square Bet South club brought 1,689 fans to Brisbane Road but there was to be no giant-killing as the League One hosts progressed through to the Second Round, courtesy of goals from Matthew Spring, former Cray Wanderers winger George Porter and Jimmy Smith.

Considering the Kent club took more fans to east London than the likes of Tranmere Rovers (248), Wycombe Wanderers (480), Carlisle United (363), Bristol Rovers (397), Dagenham & Redbridge (417), Bournemouth (335), Oldham Athletic (314), Preston North End (958), Bury (327), Sheffield United (1,526) and Hartlepool United (256) was a marvellous achievement and something to be proud of, especially as the club attract average gates of 507 to Hayes Lane in Conference South.

“The supporters’ for us today was absolutely fantastic and I’m sure the other fellas agree, they were brilliant for us today.  It’s just unfortunate we couldn’t get a little goal for them,” said Waldren, 22.

“They’ve been fantastic all the way through as well, not just for this alone but for all the games we’ve played previous to this.  They’ve been down there and been giving us the support and unfortunately it’s a shame we could’ve give them a goal today, which would’ve been brilliant, but that’s the way it is.”

But despite going a goal down, against the run of play, through Spring’s seventh minute opener, Bromley had chances and the best chance fell to Welshman, Gareth Williams, 29, who received Hakeem Araba’s knockdown and was left unmarked sixteen yards from goal but his swept shot was saved by Leyton Orient keeper Ben Alnwick low to his left.

“The way we played in the first half, I thought we were probably the better side,” said a proud Waldren.

“But in all fairness to them, they’re a great side and  they’re not up there for no reason and they put pressure on us towards the end of the game.

“The 3-0 scoreline is disappointing from my point of view to be fair but we’re happy just to be in this stadium and with all the crowd.

“We had nothing to lose today, we know that, so we were going to take it at them, do what we could, try and get a goal and unfortunately it just didn’t pay off for us.

“It’s the luck of the draw really, a few things didn’t fall for us.  It was unfortunate.”

Bromley were to rue three missed first half chances, Williams squandered the best chance and Araba and Rory Hill were to blast over when balls dropped to them inside the penalty box.

“We were so unlucky, so unlucky.  Ginge (Williams) had one, which he should’ve done better with to be fair.  Ginge is a great striker, he buries them in training all day long and that just set the tone for the game really.  It was unlucky.”

Waldren added: “It’s disappointing! Fair play to Leyton Orient.  They’re a great side.  They’re not where they are for no reason.  I think their undefeated now in eight games in their own league, nine games now, so we was unlucky today.  We pushed on really against them but it was just unfortunate.”

Bromley deserved at least a goal in manager’s Mark Goldberg third appearance in the FA Cup First Round, the other times also ended in defeats to League One sides, Gillingham (2006) and Colchester United (2009).

“Our fans’ were brilliant today,” added Waldren.  “We just wanted to give them something to go home with so a goal would’ve been brilliant but we couldn’t give them that so we decided to give them a red card instead, which isn’t the best thing to do but as I said they were brilliant and we tried our hardest for them and let’s just hope that was good enough.”

Seventeen-year-old winger, Aaron Rhule was red-carded for kicking out at Porter in an off-the-ball tussle in the 65^th minute, with Bromley 2-0 down at the time. 

Waldren said: “Well to be fair, I was towards the middle of the park so I couldn’t actually see what had happened but if he’s kicked out, he’s kicked out, it’s a red card, there’s no discussion about that, but if he hasn’t then there’s obviously some debate.  The ref’s decision is final.  At the end of the day he’s given the red card.”

Waldren relished mixing it with the big boys in his first ever appearance in The FA Cup First Round.

“Personally, it was brilliant, brilliant,” he said.

“From the moment I walked here today and saw all of this, the atmosphere.

“I’ve been to grounds and watched Millwall in the play-off final and things like  that and I’m just looking, thinking ‘that’s where I want to be, I want to be on that pitch’ and to come out here and do it today,  it was fantastic!

“What do we take out of this FA Cup run?  I’d say just the experience to be fair, playing in front of these thousands (4,452 watched the game) of fans’ today.  It’s brilliant, just to play against a high quality side.

“You want to be out here doing this every week, so you’re going to try your hardest to go out and battle to try and get to where you want to be on a personal level.

“Obviously we don’t want to stay in the Conference South.  We want to move up as individuals’ and as a team however it may be and everybody wants to progress, playing in front of these is an experience I’ll never forget and hopefully it’s not the last either.”

Waldren gave this message to the Bromley faithful:  “Absolutely fantastic, thank you!”

Meanwhile, the club have reduced adult admission for Tuesday night’s Kent Senior Cup Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com Second Round tie against League One leaders Charlton Athletic to £5.

Visit Bromley’s website: www.bromleyfc.net  

Bromley  v  Charlton Athletic
Kent Senior Cup Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com Second Round
Tuesday 15^th November 2011
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF