We've got to start getting some points on the board, says Bromley coach Neil Smith

BROMLEY coach Neil Smith remains positive that his side can grab at least twenty more points to maintain their Conference South status for another year.


The Hayes Lane club dropped into the relegation zone just under two weeks ago after losing at home to Basingstoke Town and they stretched their winless run to fifteen games following their heartbreaking 3-2 defeat at Blue Square Bet South leaders Woking last weekend.

“Going 2-0 down and away from home in front of their crowd and they’re top-of-the-league it was all against us,” admitted Smith, 40, who has played for the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Gillingham, Fulham and Reading, before dropping into the non-league game.

“I don’t think anyone gave us a chance to be quite honest with you.

“The boys came back with a Danny Waldren goal – yes it was a penalty!. Substitutes Gareth Williams and Orlando Smith linked together to give us an equaliser and in the last five minutes of the game we all thought a draw would have been a fair result.

“And then four minutes added on and then there was four minutes added on to the four minutes added on and we were really disappointed to come away with no points after the effort, determination and the grit the boys showed after coming back from 2-0 down.”

Bromley based Smith added: “It was a devastating way to lose a game and fair play to (Woking manager) Garry Hill and all their players – they all shook our hands and I know it may be a bit of lip service but Garry said we didn’t deserve to lose.  It was all very nice but we have to make sure we put those performances in week in, week out until the end of the season.”

Bromley have seventeen cup-finals to play between Saturday’s home game against Truro City and the end of the season to ensure that they retain their Conference South status.

This is the time for every player to stand up and be counted, for every fan to raise their voice on the terraces to ensure the club beat the drop.

Truro City arrive at Hayes Lane on Saturday, having paid off their entire tax debt of around £100,00 earlier in the week to secure their future and are presently in 12^th place in the table with 31 points from 25 games.

Smith said: “We know they will have to travel a long way to get to us obviously and we know we have to be on top form again.  We can’t just produce against the top teams.  We have to show that determination, that grit, that spirit.  We’ve got to start getting some points on the board. 

“We’ve got to now do it week in week out because it’s getting close down the bottom at the moment and we have to get the points on the board as soon as we can.”

“I think the (Truro) players have shown a loyalty to their club during this tough time.  I don’t think many players have left, they’ve all stayed there and they’ve rolled their sleeves up and they’ve obviously got a team spirit down there.

“There’s always been that environment of what’s happening?  Is there going to be a club there next week?  I think now that (unpaid tax) has all been paid and they know the club is safe they’ll play with a bit more freedom. 

“It’s going to be a tough game.  We can’t worry about what other clubs are going through, we have our own problems.  We have to worry about ourselves and deep down the boys – and the players that have come in – have performed well against Woking and if we can produce that performance again like the last half-an-hour, I think we can win.”

Mark Goldberg’s side have now stretched their winless run to fifteen games – and Saturday’s game is a perfect time to banish such a horrible statistic.

Smith agrees, saying, “People say winning becomes a habit and we just have to hope we break this losing habit, this not winning habit.  We’ve had a couple of draws in that as well.  We’ve got to start putting points on the board.  The sooner we can get those points on the board the sooner the boys get their confidence back, as we’re lacking a bit of that.

“They’ve been working very hard in training, we can’t grumble there.  We have to start doing it on a Saturday and a Tuesday evening.”

Out of their last remaining seventeen league games, Bromley face nine teams that are in the top eleven and eight sides in the bottom half of the table.

Smith said: “There’s teams around us who are in the same situation and it’s the ones that can produce more often or not consistency football.  We can’t have the one off games like the Woking one.  We played extremely well against Tonbridge Angels over the Christmas period and should have got better results than (two draws).

“We weren’t so great the week before Woking but we can produce the game like we did against Woking, so we know we can do it.  We have to produce it on a weekly basis now.  Every game is a Cup Final.  We take the game on a game-to-game basis and see where we are.

“We are going to need every one behind us.  The supporters were fantastic on Saturday as they can see a team who are putting up a fight and if we can get everyone behind supporting the players I think we can move in the same direction, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Bromley have collected 21 points this season and are one point adrift of safety.  They have got to start picking up wins soon as Hampton & Richmond Borough (in 19^th place) are now four points adrift of Farnborough.

When asked how many points Bromley need to avoid relegation back into the Ryman Premier League, Smith predicted,  “I think 41 stayed up last season.  We’re looking for 41-42 points this season.  It’s a big ask.  20-odd points.  If we can get that I think we can get safe.  For me, let’s go for 40-50 and stay up hands down and then we don’t have to worry about anyone else then.”

Smith, who is employed full-time by the club to jointly run the Football in the Community Scheme, knows relegation would be a financial disaster for the Hayes Lane club.

He said: “We’re trying to promote the Football in the Community and it’s doing really well at the moment.  We hope we stay up so it doesn’t affect that.  We want to get more supporters in.  You only get more supporters in if you’re successful.  At the same time it’s easy to support a team if they’re successful.  It’s the support you need when you’re in trouble and we’re a club in trouble in the league.

“We need everyone in the same mind-set that we really need to fight together.  It would be devastating for the club.  Jerry (Dolke) the owner has put in a lot of hard work to get this club to where it is.  As players, management, coaches and people who work for the club we want to do it for the people like Jerry and the supporters who have seen this club in the Ryman Premier to Conference South and make sure we stay there!”

Visit Bromley’s website: www.bromleyfc.net  

Bromley  v  Truro City
Blue Square Bet South
Saturday 21^st January 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF