It's going to be a really difficult period ahead, warns Bromley boss Mark Goldberg

BROMLEY manager Mark Goldberg says he will know more about his side’s title credentials after the New Year.

The Ravens sit proudly at the top of The Skrill South table with 34 points from 15 league games and they have won all eight league games at fortress Hayes Lane.

Bromley welcome eleventh-placed Farnborough to Hayes Lane on Saturday.

The Hampshire based outfit became a laughing stock in August when as part of a £100,000 sponsorship deal with bookmaker Paddy Power, their players were to change their names by deed-poll to the likes of Gordon Banks, David Beckham, Gary Lineker, Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Pele.

Manager Spencer Day would have become Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho – in his dreams! - but thankfully Conference officials saw sense and blocked Farnborough’s move.

“Well there a very up and down side at the moment,” said Goldberg.

“They’re capable of beating any side and they’re capable of losing to any side so we don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes there but they’ll be up for our game and they’re a bit of a bogey team for us.

“We haven’t seen to have done very well against Farnborough in the past so I know that we’re at home this time and away from home we’ve had more problems haven’t we at Farnborough.”

Bromley defeated Havant & Waterlooville 2-0 at home in their last league game on 23 November and warmed up to the clash against Farnborough by thrashing Essex Senior League strugglers London Bari 4-0 to reach the London Senior Cup Sponsored by Coventry Scaffolding Quarter-Finals on Tuesday night.

“It’s going to be a tough game but we just have to treat it like we did in the Havant game,” said Goldberg.

“I think it’s going to be a similar type of game and we’ve got to make sure we take advantage of our good home form at the moment and we’ll go into the game wanting to grind out a win.”

Bromley travel to Dover Athletic next Tuesday.

Chris Kinnear’s side travel to League One side Milton Keynes Dons in The FA Cup Second Round on Saturday and are presently in 12^th place in the Conference South table, 12 points adrift of Bromley.

“It’s always difficult going to Dover on a Tuesday night in the freezing cold weather,” said Goldberg.

“We played Dover last year and it was an important stage of the season for us. We were found out in terms of our strength-in-depth of our squad.

“I’m hoping that this year we’re going to turn that round and at least get a draw there.”

The last time Bromley won a league title was back in 1961 when they were crowned Isthmian League champions (Ryman Premier League in today’s money).

But despite his side’s excellent start to the season – Bromley have lost three league games this season – Goldberg is keeping his feet on the ground.

“I think we’ve got to take each game as it comes,” said Goldberg.

Bromley travel to Basingstoke Town (14 December) then on to Weston-super-Mare (21 December), before welcoming third-placed Ebbsfleet United to Hayes Lane on Boxing Day, before returning to Stonebridge Road on New Years’ Day.  The Ravens also travel down to Brighton to play Whitehawk on 28 December.

Goldberg said: “I think where we are at the end of Christmas and the New Year, let’s say the turn of the year will be a time to reflect on what we’ve achieved.

“I think right now we’ve just got to focus and take each game as it comes and pick up as many points during this really difficult Christmas period. It’s going to be a really difficult period ahead.

“I’m hoping we can grind out results away from home and keep our home form as best we can.