Three months and nineteen games into the 2019/20 National League season and Bromley still find themselves top of the table, a point clear of Halifax Town and two in front of Yeovil Town.
Despite injuries and suspensions catching up with his squad, Neil Smith’s side have had another good month progressing in the FA Cup and maintaining their place at the top of the league.
On the personnel front, loan signings Shawn McCoulsky (Forest Green) and Alfie Doughty (Charlton) returned to their parent clubs, while Rarmani Edmonds-Green has joined on loan from Huddersfield Town to cover Marc Anthony-Okoye who is out injured and Michael Klass has extended his stay from Southend.
Smith has seen several players ruled out as the busy early schedule of 20 competitive games in three months catches up with players. Billy Bingham and Jordan Higgs have missed recent matches, while Mark Cousins & Jake Goodman are long term absentees.
Joe Kizzi, Chris Bush and Frankie Raymond all missed matches having picked up five bookings, George Porter is banned for the rest of the campaign.
The month started with Bromley’s second defeat of the season losing 2-1 at home to an impressive Barrow team whose front two of Dior Angus and Scott Quigley were a real handful.
The Ravens came back with the perfect response though on the following Tuesday winning 2-1 at Barnet with Kizzi and Bush scoring, both defenders having missed the previous game through suspension.
A 2-1 loss at Solihull Moors followed before Bromley’s involvement in the FA Cup began with a 4-3 Fourth Qualifying Round win at home to Aldershot Town, setting up a trip to Bristol Rovers in the first round.
With the exception of the 3-1 win over Ebbsfleet Utd in August, all of Bromley’s victories has been by a single goal margin prior to the top of the table clash with Halifax Town on 26th.
After a cagey first 45 minutes, the Ravens blew the leaders away in the second half winning 5-0 and moving back to the top of the league.
Their final game of October was another home game at Hayes Lane against former Football League opposition, drawing 2-2 with Stockport County watched by over 2,000 fans.
Bromley now go into November facing a tough looking set of fixtures. First off is a trip to Wrexham on Saturday, who have former Ravens striker JJ Hooper up front, before the FA Cup trip to Bristol Rovers the following Sunday lunchtime.
Then come home games against high flying Harrogate Town and Yeovil either side of trips to Sutton United and Woking. Should Neil Smith’s side still be up in contention come December, the Ravens will be looking like the real deal and maybe even finally catch the attention of BT Sport live game schedulers.