We believe in the boys that we can do it, says Bromley coach Neil Smith

Friday 11th January 2013

BROMLEY assistant manager Neil Smith has told his players not to leave the Dartford pitch with any regrets tomorrow.

The Ravens travel to Princes Park to contest a FA Carlsberg Trophy tie, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

Bromley have never played in the last sixteen before and Smith says the team arrive at Dartford in fine form.

They have won four of their last five games and have won their last two games, defeating full-time Eastleigh 3-1 at Hayes Lane last weekend, before coming back from Dorchester Town on Tuesday night with a morale boosting 4-0 win.

Bromley are now in the top half of the Blue Square Bet (Conference) South table for the first time in what appears to be a long time.

But attention turns to Dartford, who are in eighth-place in the Blue Square Bet (Conference) Premier, with 38 points from 27 games.

Reflecting on their last two games, Smith said: “It’s been fantastic! After the disappointment of Sutton the week before, we’ve re-grouped, we’ve worked hard on the training side of things and we put a plan of action in and we were successful on both accounts.”

Smith added: “This time last week we were third from bottom and now to being in the top half of the division and playing a last sixteen FA Trophy tie against Dartford is absolutely fantastic.

“We know we’re not out of the woods. We know we’re only four points from dropping back into it. There will be a few games being played when we’re in The FA Trophy but we’ve given ourselves a chance and hopefully a work-ethic that we know we now have and we know we have to keep that up until the end of the season.”

Bromley came away from Dartford with a 2-1 win in The FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round last season, before going down to a 3-0 defeat away to League One side Leyton Orient in the First Round.

Bromley have a Cup team tag and reached The FA Cup First Round again this season, going down to a 3-0 defeat to League Two big-spenders Fleetwood Town in November.

But this is the furthest that the Hayes Lane outfit have gone in The FA Trophy and they have got past Staines Town (their first win in the competition since 2007), Boreham Wood and Dartford’s league rivals, Kidderminster Harriers.

Smith said: “Massive game. It’s a local game as well so hopefully there will be a decent crowd there and we go there with nothing to lose.

“Even Dartford were pleased to pull put a Bromley side who were second from bottom but fortunately we’ve turned that around and the boys have a bit of confidence.

“But we know we’re going to a very tough place because after playing Dartford for so many years we know what they’re about. They’re a very hard working side who never give up, especially at home, who are quite strong and formidable.

“We go there, we have to be resolute and we’ve got to be hard to break down. We know they live off crosses, set-plays, deliveries and second balls. We have to stop their supply in the box.

“At the other end we ‘re missing out on Louie Theophanous, (cup-tied after playing for Staines Town) who is hitting a bit of form as well. We’ve got to make sure we close their centre halves down and get in behind them.”

Reflecting on their FA Cup win at Dartford last season, Smith admitted his friend, Dartford boss Tony Burman, will want to extract revenge on Bromley tomorrow.

He said: “Knowing Tony as I do, he’ll want to put one back over on us because I know they were very disappointed to go out to a Bromley side who were not doing very well so they’re going to use that against us.

“But we have to go there having confidence in ourselves. We’ve done it before and we can do it again. It will be hard, we know that, but if we can do it against Kidderminster and teams like that we’ve got to go there with that confidence and believe that we can do another upset.”

The Hayes Lane faithful can now look at the Blue Square Bet (Conference) South table now that their side are now in eleventh-place.

“I just think the whole mood at the club has hopefully changed,” said Smith, who works full-time at his home-town club in more than one role.

“I don’t think anybody gives us a little bit of hope going to Dartford, who are in the Conference, but the two games and the win, it’s all about the players. If the players believe it, I certainly do, the manager Mark (Goldberg) does and Del (Parnham), we believe in the boys that we can do it.

“The boys believe it. We’re going there with a great opportunity.”

Bromley take great support over to Dartford and Smith urges the away fans to raise the roof tomorrow.

“If it is anything like the FA Cup game last year it will be absolutely fantastic,” said Smith.

“After that game it was so memorable. If the players who were here then are talking about it saying the fans never stopped signing, saying how the supporters were absolutely fantastic.

“We just hope we give our supporters something to cheer about.

“We’re going to need big help. We’re going to be outnumbered but if they get behind the boys, hopefully the boys will respond to that.”

Smith knows Bromley will be in dreamland if they reach the Wembley Final on Sunday 24 March 2013.

He said: “We’ve spoken about it last night. We always say somebody’s name is written on the Cup don’t we? Why can’t it be us? Why can’t it be our little bit of foray that we can go to Wembley?

“The reality of it is there’s a final at Wembley. There’s not a final at a London club. It’s a final at Wembley. It’s a day out where your family can be there.

“I made the FA Trophy Final (playing for Woking), unfortunately and I say unfortunately not in a bad way, I missed out on a Wembley trip – the final was at Upton Park – but the feeling of getting to a Trophy Final is brilliant.

“It’s the biggest cup competition we can actually win!

“So hopefully the boys give their all. If they come off there absolutely shattered and they’ve given their all and we lose we can take that.

“Just don’t come out of there having regretted you didn’t give your best.”

Visit Bromley’s website: www.bromleyfc.net

Dartford v Bromley
The FA Carlsberg Trophy Third Round
Saturday 12^th January 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT