As Bromley have now reached the half way point of their National League season it’s seems a good time to look at how the campaign has gone so far.
At the time of writing Bromley sit second in the table with 45 points from 23 league games, eight points behind Chesterfield who have two games in hand, but The Spireites are also still in the FA Cup and Trophy. Should the National League title be out of reach, the key to progression for Andy Woodman’s men is to finish second or third and guarantee home advantage in the play off semi finals and avoid the eliminator games.
Since Woodman has come in his record is phenomenal: Play Offs, FA Trophy Win, Play Off semi finalists. If the progress continues then the top three is the next piece of history Bromley can achieve under his management and the foundations for this are set in the first half of this season.
Looking back to the warm summer days when the season began, Bromley looked under prepared for the start of the campaign and really didn’t get going until late in August when loan players had come in to strengthen the squad, by which time The Ravens had lost their two opening games and drawn the next three.
The first win came on Bank Holiday Monday with a 2-1 home victory over Southend Utd, Louis Dennis & Michael Cheek on target for Bromley to give them a much needed three points.
In addition to the permanent signings of keeper Grant Smith, defender Cole Kpekawa, midfielder Sam Woods, winger Todd Miller and wing back Josh Passley acquired in the summer, Andy Woodman made use of his contacts to bring in several players on loan from Football League clubs including midfielder Lewis Leigh from Preston, full back Ryan Jones from Bristol Rovers, Kido Taylor-Hart and Alex Kirk from Arsenal, plus keeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe from Chelsea, striker Bim Pepple from Luton Town and defender Chin Okoli from Millwall.
With a plethora of loan signings now through the door at Hayes Lane, September began in positive fashion with four consecutive wins followed by a 1-1 draw at Solihull Moors and two more wins over Eastleigh & Gateshead to complete the month unbeaten and move The Ravens towards the top seven. October started with a 2-0 midweek loss at leaders Chesterfield and a 2-2 draw at York City, courtesy of an injury time equaliser from Josh Passley, before The Ravens got back to winning ways with a 3-2 FA Cup win over Wealdstone at Hayes Lane.
Three league wins followed over Oxford City 3-1, Dorking Wanderers 2-1 & 1-0 away at Woking thanks to a goal from centre back Deji Elerewe who had come back for another loan spell from Charlton Athletic after impressing in the second half of last season.
Interest in the FA Cup came to an end in November with a 2-0 loss at home to Blackpool, with over 4,400 fans in attendance and the game live on BBC2, it was an all to familiar story for Bromley fans as the team conceded an early goal and didn’t get going until it was too late.
Back to National League action The Ravens drew 1-1 at Boreham Wood and then another goal from Passley saw Bromley beat AFC Fylde 1-0 at home. The first league defeat since September came with a 2-3 home loss to Aldershot Town, having lead 2-0 it all went off the rails for Andy Woodman’s men, Byron Webster being sent off for violent conduct at 2-2, but the month ended with the perfect response at they won 4-1 away at Hartlepool Utd Michael Cheek with two, Ben Krauhaus and Olufela Olomola on target.
Striker Olomola having joined in October from Wealdstone and immediately impressed with some great performances and vital goals. Young in-experienced sides exited both the London & Kent Senior Cups, although it was good to see Mitchel Bergkamp make an appearance in the loss at Dartford after a long spell out injured.
December started with a 1-0 win over Rochdale at Hayes Lane, Olomola on the score sheet again and then another singe goal victory in the FA Trophy over Slough Town, with Ryan Jones notching early on to secure a fourth round tie at home to Chippenham in January. Sadly for Bromley Deji Elerewe was recalled by Charlton, but it was no surprise that he immediately joined the first team squad for The Addicks next game.
The remaining December fixtures see a trip to Southend Utd, followed by a home game with Altrincham on 23rd, live on TNT Sports and then a local derby double header with Ebbsfleet Utd away on Boxing Day and at home on 30th to finish off the year.
Andy Woodman will be hoping to extend the loans for some key players that are due to return to their parent clubs in January or bring in others of equal quality to help the push in the second half of the campaign.
If The Ravens can repeat their form from the first half of their National League season then they should be right up there come May and challenging for promotion to the Football League, potentially making club history again.