With the National League season finally getting underway in October it’s been a hectic and eventful campaign so far for Bromley manager Neil Smith and his team.
After a mixed pre-season, which included one game in front of 600 fans ‘away’ to Cray Wanderers at Hayes Lane the team went into their first match at home to Dover Athletic behind closed doors. The Ravens started their fixtures a few days later than the rest of the league when their opening game away to Macclesfield Town was postponed after Macc folded. Despite the strange nature to the preparations Bromley won their opening game 4-1 with loanee Harry Forster having an impressive debut. The club set up an excellent live streaming service for supporters to watch the home games while there were either no fans allowed in or just a limited number and it was widely praised by supporters from other clubs who purchased the broadcasts when their club’s visited Hayes Lane.
Forster had signed from Watford on loan until January and was joined by Reeco Hackett-Fairchild from Portsmouth. Reeco had been picked up by Pompey that January from Bromley, but was now back at Hayes Lane on loan for the rest of 2020. Coming in on a permanent basis were young midfielders Taylor Maloney and Tom Purrington, striker James Alabi, experienced midfielder Liam Trotter and centre backs Byron Webster & Kory Roberts from Football League clubs. Smith looking to freshen up his options in attack and solidify his defence from last season, adding some vital experience to his team as he set the target of making the play offs for the season.
The following Saturday saw The Ravens fall to their first defeat though when leaders Torquay Utd came to Hayes Lane and won 2-1. The following Tuesday saw The Ravens travel up to high flying Hartlepool Utd with the game being beamed back to Hayes Lane for supporters to watch in the bar. A hard fought performance earned Bromley a point from a 0-0 draw with new signing Nassim L’Ghoul making his debut at wing back. After the away game at Altrincham was called off due to a positive Covid 19 test in the Alty squad next up was the start of their FA Cup campaign.
A 1-0 win at Sutton Utd saw Bromley progress to the first round of the cup thanks to a Michael Cheek penalty and set up a home tie with fellow National League side Yeovil Town in November. A midweek home win 3-2 over Weymouth was followed by a 2-1 defeat to bogey side Eastleigh four days later as October came to an end with The Ravens sitting in eleventh with 7 points from 5 matches played.
November began with FA Cup heartbreak as Yeovil came to Hayes Lane and after dominating the game eventually won it 1-0 scoring in the last minute of extra time. Bromley playing with then men for over an hour after Harry Forster had been sent off. Smith’s men would come up with the perfect response though, winning 3-1 at Barnet before picking up points at home to Boreham Wood and away at Maidenhead Utd. A hard fought 1-0 win at Altrincham thanks to an early James Alabi goal, quickly followed by a home point against Wrexham in 1-1 draw ended the month with the team looking solid and well placed for a play off challenge in eighth with 16 points from 10 National League matches.
December began in style with a 4-1 win at newly promoted Kings Lynn Town, before two home games in front of fans against Stockport County and Yeovil Town, with crowds capped at 1,200. With London in Tier 2 of Covid 19 restrictions the club were able to welcome back supporters for the first time since February, but unfortunately both games would end in defeat losing 2-0 against County and 2-1 to The Glovers, Michael Cheek scoring the only goal for The Ravens. Bromley have only beaten Yeovil once in twelve meetings, a 2-1 win back in 1987 thanks to two Alan Scotting goals and despite The Glovers being bottom of the table the hex continued. Another Michael Cheek goal saw Bromley win 1-0 away at Solihull Moors live on BT Sport, taking The Ravens up to third in the table and then the year came to a premature end with a 2-0 home win over Hemel Hempstead Town in the FA Trophy thanks to two goals from Harry Forster, setting up a fourth round tie at home to Woking. By this time London was now in Tier 4 and games were again behind closed doors.
As Neil Smith’s team looked set for a busy festive period of games, a positive Covid 19 test in the squad meant that the next three games were postponed with the staff in self isolation. With December coming to a close, The Ravens sit in eighth place with 22 points from 14 league games, one place under the play off spots. The side are undefeated away from home, but have lost five games at Hayes Lane across two competitions, making any talk of an advantage in having a 3G pitch look like nonsense. Michael Cheek has continued his goal scoring form with 9 goals so far and James Alabi on 4. The squad looks the strongest it has been in the six years Bromley have been in the National League, exemplified by the fact that captain Jack Holland is no longer guaranteed a start in the back four with Webster and Roberts in impressive form flanked by Joe Kizzi and Chris Bush at full back. The midfield looks stronger for the experience of Trotter whose performances have improved game on game, while keeper Mark Cousins now looks fully fit again and in commanding form.
There is a positive feeling around the club that the challenge to make the play offs will be successful come May 2021, as long as Covid doesn’t keep intervening and the squad stays fit and healthy.
Here’s to a good 2021 at Hayes Lane.