With fifteen games left this season Bromley sit fourth in the National League having lead the table in the early stages of the campaign before struggling for consistency more recently.

Following the 2-0 defeat at Barrow manager Neil Smith is now targeting a finish in the play off places, which in itself would be significant progress for the club who were promoted to this level in 2015, their highest placed finish being ninth in 2018.  

Smith lost holding midfielder Billy Bingham to injury the day before the Barrow game and decided to switch to a back five for the televised game, but despite having the chances to secure a point The Ravens conceded two poor goals and came back from Cumbria with nothing.   

The Ravens season has pretty much started again having suffered terrible luck with injuries following an unbeaten start to proceedings of 13 games.

Smith has been forced to rebuild his squad with centre back Marc-Anthony Okoye forced to retire with a knee injury, keeper Mark Cousins was ruled out for several months with a damaged shoulder and Adrian Clifton also missed several weeks with a knee problem.

Jordan Higgs was out for a spell, Jake Goodman has yet to play since his ACL injury in April and the club also lost the services of utility man George Porter.

Suspensions have also seen centre back Chris Bush miss seven games, while exciting young winger Reeco Hackett-Fairchild secured a transfer to League One Portsmouth and Adam Mekki has gone on loan to Ebbsfleet Utd.        

Since December, Smith has brought in several new faces in order to re-invigorate his squad with defender Dave Winfield coming in from Chelmsford City,  winger Andre Coker joining from Cray Wanderers, defender Michael Chambers from Wrexham and winger Corey Whitely on loan from Newport County. 

With such a turnaround in personnel Smith’s challenge will be to establish a settled line up and formation as Bromley prepare for the crucial final quarter of the National League season. 

The one constant in the season has been the excellent form of striker Michael Cheek who has scored 13 goals so far in the league and lead the line as a lone forward superbly. In addition full backs Joe Kizzi & Sam Wood have performed consistently well, while Luke Coulson and Frankie Raymond have provided so much creativity in midfield.

If The Ravens can keep these players fit and in form the basis for a strong finish to the season is still there.  

The Run In

January ends with a home game against Barnet, a side The Ravens beat 2-1 at The Hive back in October, before February starts with three games against sides competing for the play off places. The Ravens travel to Halifax Town and Stockport County either side of a home game with Solihull Moors.

February ends with two home games against teams in the bottom half of the table in Wrexham and Sutton United both of whom have picked up recently.

March starts with a trip to fellow challengers Harrogate Town, the teams having drawn 3-3 at Hayes Lane in November, when Bromley came back from 3-0 down. A home game with bottom side Chorley follows, before a derby day clash at Ebbsfleet United who need points for league survival. Mid table Aldershot Town then come to Hayes Lane at the end the month.

And so to the final month of the regular season, starting with a trip to Devon to face Torquay United and then the Easter fixtures at home to Maidenhead United on Good Friday and a trip to form side Boreham Wood on the Easter Monday who look set to be challenging at the top.

The final home game sees Hartlepool United make the journey south, before it all ends at AFC Fylde who are the surprise strugglers this season currently third from bottom.                    

Since the expansion of the play offs to incorporate six teams the required points total to secure a seventh place finish has been 74 points.

This means Bromley have to  pick up another 24 points from the last 15 games. Should they match their results against the same opposition from the reverse fixtures they would accrue 79 points which would see them well placed in the top seven come May.         

Remaining Fixtures – Result of reverse fixture and current league position

Sat 25 Jan H Barnet (W)  14^th

Sat 1 Feb A FC Halifax Town (W) 7^th

Sat 8 Feb H Solihull Moors (L) 9^th

Sat 15 Feb A Stockport County (D)  8^th

Sat 22 Feb H Wrexham (L) 18^th

Sat 29 Feb H Sutton United (W) 15^th

Sat 7 Mar A Harrogate Town (D) 2^nd

Sat 14 Mar H Chorley (D) 24^th

Sat 21 Mar A Ebbsfleet United (W) 23^rd

Sat 28 Mar H Aldershot Town (W) 16^th

Sat 4 Apr A Torquay United (D) 13^th

Fri 10 Apr H Maidenhead United (W) 19^th

Mon 13 Apr A Boreham Wood (W) 5^th

Sat 18 Apr H Hartlepool United (W) 11^th

Sat 25 Apr A AFC Fylde (D) 22^nd