We're up for the fight, insists Bromley coach Neil Smith

BROMLEY coach Neil Smith says everyone knows the importance of claiming three vital points in the relegation dog-fight at Thurrock on Tuesday night.



The Ravens’ last game saw them come away from Weston-super-Mare with a morale boosting 3-0 three weeks ago, which ended a miserable run of sixteen games without any win. 

But their momentum was lost when the cold snap postponed their last two home games, against Havant & Waterlooville and fellow strugglers Staines Town.

But Mark Goldberg’s men make the short dash through the Dartford Tunnel to play basement side Thurrock and Smith demands that they come back over the Bridge with three vital points in the bag.

Bromley are one place above the relegation zone with 25 points from 27 games, whilst the Essex hosts are nine points adrift of the Kent side at the foot of the Blue Square Bet (Conference) South table.

“Well, it was a big nightmare anyway because we wanted to play the two home games but after a good win like that we wanted to keep the momentum going and unfortunately the boys were training really hard but not getting anything at the end of it,” said Smith.

Smith revealed that the team have been training on the 3G pitches at the back of their Hayes Lane ground during the cold snap.

He said: “We’ve been really lucky with the Astro pitches that are at the back at us. We brushed the snow  off and we’ve been going on there and doing as much as we can.

“There’s nothing like playing.  We’ve got new players on board.  It would have been lovely just to keep the momentum going after the Weston-super-Mare game.”

Smith described their game at Thurrock as a six-pointer.

He said: “It’s a massive game.  We know that and obviously so was Staines had been if we were playing in that one, but we have to be mentally strong and prepared.  We don’t know what the weather is going to be like tomorrow, although it’s dry and no snow, some of the pitches might be waterlogged believe it or not!

“We’ve got to prepare right that it is going to be on and hopefully we can get back to doing what we did at Weston-super Mare as it was a fantastic result and a fantastic performance.

“Six pointer?  That’s right! It definitely is!  We know that!  The season doesn’t just matter on that one game but it’s just such a big game that we need to keep the momentum going. 

“We need to get the wins on the board.  We know they need the wins as much as we do.  By no means we know it’s going to be an easy game.  It will be a tough game so it’s how we prepare for it.  We need to be more than a match for them.”

Bromley then travel to Salisbury City next Saturday.

Smith said: “They’re a decent side.  They’re full-time so again they can work on things through the week.  I don’t know how much training they’ve done with the weather.

“We feel aggrieved as they scored in the last minute against us as well when we played them at our place.

“They’re all going to be difficult games.  Again, with the weather as it is, you don’t know what the pitch is going to be like at the moment so you may have to play the conditions as well.”

Smith added: “We’ve got no injuries as such.  We’ll have a full squad to pick from.  Obviously with the new signings it would have been ideal to see them as well.  They’ve all been training, they all look up for it.  They look up for the fight and that’s what we need.”

Meanwhile, former Bromley striker, Leon McKenzie, has signed for Ryman Premier League side AFC Hornchurch following a spell with Ryman League Division One North side Grays Athletic.

Thurrock have confirmed that there will be a pitch inspection on Tuesday morning.  If the game gets called off, then supporters can watch tenants Cray Wanderers lock horns with Tooting & Mitcham United in the Ryman Premier League back at Hayes Lane.

Visit Bromley’s website: www.bromleyfc.net  

Thurrock  v  Bromley
Blue Square Bet South
Tuesday 14^th February 2012
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Ship Lane, Grays, Essex RM19 1YN