We're in a false position, says Bromley coach Neil Smith

BROMLEY assistant manager Neil Smith wants his side to carry on where they left off when they face newly-promoted Billericay Town on Saturday.

The Ravens won their first FA Trophy tie since 2007 last night when they came away from Staines Town with a 2-0 win in an impressive performance at Wheatsheaf Park.

Bromley took two of their twenty chances during the second half when Tony Finn composed solo run from the half-way line and a fine chip from substitutes Ali Chaaban sealed a home tie against fellow Blue Square Bet (Conference) South rivals Boreham Wood in the First Round on 24 November.

Bromley are presently in seventeenth-place in the table and dominated eighth-placed Staines last night and Smith, 41, wants to replicate that performance against Billericay Town at Hayes Lane.

He said: “It’s back to the reality. We have to win these home games. We’ve got to put in a performance that we have just done at home and give our home supporters something to cheer about and start moving up the table because I think we’re in a false position.

“I’d rather have the three points to be quite honest with you and knocking around the top half of that division but hopefully with the confidence of the boys and if they don’t go too high and we can bring them back down and hopefully get a good result on Saturday.”

Smith admitted he wished Bromley had the same immaculate playing surface that Staines Town have, at Hayes Lane.

“We want to do that at home but saying that Staines’ pitch was absolutely fantastic.  It was ideal to play football on.  The boys went out there and couldn’t believe what a great pitch it was and that just sets you up it’s going to be a passing game and I think you saw some of our passing and moving was brilliant but we know at home it’s not as good but we’ve got to have the belief that we can still play like that.”

When asked how seventeenth-placed Bromley will climb the Blue Square Bet (Conference) South table, Smith replied, “We climb the table by putting in performances like we did last night.  That is ideal football for me. We passed it around when we could. We had to clear our lines when we had to.”

Bromley face Gillingham in the Kent Senior Cup (sponsored by portablefloodlights.com) Second Round at Hayes Lane next Tuesday, with the winners travelling to Tonbridge Angels in the quarter-finals after Tommy Warrilow’s side claimed the local bragging rights with their 3-2 win at Maidstone United last night.

The League Two leaders face Exeter City to Priestfield Stadium on the same night so a young side are expected at Hayes Lane.

Former Gillingham player Smith said: “I would imagine it would be their development squad.  We’ll probably asses who will play a little close to when we play them but our first and foremost thoughts are on Billericay.

“knowing Craig Edwards they’re going to be a physical side. They’re going to be non-stop battling and we have to match that.”

Bromley face 12 games between now and the second day of the New Year and Smith said: “We’ve got loads of games and the players will have to stay on their toes. There might to be a bit of rotation like last night and when you get your chance take it.”

Visit Bromley’s website: www.bromleyfc.net

Bromley  v  Billericay Town
Blue Square Bet South
Saturday 17^th November 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF