We've very much concentrating on what we've got to do, says Bromley striker Adam Birchall

Thursday 11th December 2014

BROMLEY striker Adam Birchall says he is concentrating on getting through Leiston in The FA Trophy on Saturday.

The former Arsenal, Dover Athletic and Gillingham striker opened his league goalscoring account for the Ravens on Tuesday night when he scored a stunning last minute volley to help Bromley seal a 3-2 win over Bishop’s Stortford.

Bromley found themselves 2-0 down inside the opening 24 minutes when Bishop’s Stortford took advantage of the awful wet and windy conditions at Hayes Lane.

But Bromley mounted a remarkable recovery as Rob Swaine headed home a 49^th minute corner, before Danny Waldren curled home a free-kick from 35-yards with fifteen minutes remaining, before Birchall found the bottom left-hand corner from 18-yards at the death.

Bromley remain in second-place in the Vanarama Conference South table with 36 points from 18 games, three points behind Boreham Wood, but will have two games in hand by the end of Saturday evening.

Boreham Wood are in league action on Saturday when they host basement side Staines Town, while Bromley welcome Leiston to Hayes Lane in The FA Trophy First Round.

The Suffolk outfit are sitting in fifth-place in the league below – the Ryman Premier League – and have won 11, drawn five and lost five of their league games this term.

“I hear they’re a good side,” warned Birchall, 30.

“We want to keep that home record going now, we’re on a good run.

“I’m sure they’re going to come and have a really good go at us.

“The FA Trophy is a really good competition to be in. We all know the outcome if we get to the Final. I’m not looking that far ahead but hopefully we can start the next game as we finished the last, which was on a high.”

Birchall will soon be knocking on Mark Goldberg’s door if he continues to score during his usual late cameos as substitute.

“We’ve got a good group of lads,” said the striker.

“Mark’s assembled a squad from non-league with some really good players’ in there. Sometimes when you get big characters and big players it takes time to gel, but we all get on really well. It’s a good environment to be around.”

Bromley are fighting out the title along with their Kent rivals Ebbsfleet United, who have enticed Jamie Day, Barry Ashby and Dean Frost to leave Vanarama Conference club Welling United to Stonebridge Road.

When asked about the title race, Birchall replied: “No team has taken it by the scruff of the neck yet.

“Ebbsfleet sacking their manager and getting a good win at the weekend, I’m sure whatever happens over there is going to be difficult to contend against but we’re very much concentrating on what we’ve got to do, which is win every game in front of us and take each game as it comes, so long may that continue.”

Bromley have struggled to beat Ryman Premier League sides at the first attempt this season and needed replays to beat Grays Athletic and Tonbridge Angels in Cup competitions this season.

“We’ve got to believe that we can grind out a win,” added manager Goldberg.

“That’s what we’ve got to do, just grind out a win and make sure that we’re in the hat for the next round.

“We’ve had problems with (playing Ryman Premier League teams). They’re very tough games.

“The FA Cup, we had exactly the same. The last round against Tonbridge and here against Tonbridge were very, very tough opposition, Ryman Premier League sides.

“We’ve got to do our homework, which we will do and I’ll start working and make sure that we’re prepared.”

Visit Bromley’s website: www.bromleyfc.net

Bromley v Leiston
The FA Trophy First Round
Saturday 13^th December 2014
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF