A last day of the season victory over in-form Notts County, combined with Eastleigh and Wrexham not winning, meant that Bromley claimed the final play off place and captain Chris Bush couldn’t have been happier.

He enthused “It was one of those where it went to the last day and it went right down to the final whistle but sometimes they’re a little bit sweeter. I think that the hard work that we put in during the last thirteen games, it’s really shown and the run that we’ve been on, credit to the staff and credit to the boys and I think we deserved it on the basis of that.”

One defeat in thirteen games, of which nine were away and included Torquay United, Stockport County, Notts County and Chesterfield, was sensational.

Bush continued “It’s been a brilliant run and we’ve played a lot of the top teams in that run and we’ve managed to pick up points and keep clean sheets away from home and it’s propelled us to the position we’re in so it’s a fantastic achievement from everyone at the club.

“We knew what we had to do. We set targets when the gaffer came in and it was all about achieving those targets.” 

After Bromley had completed their part, there was an anxious wait for the outcome of Wrexham’s game at Dagenham and Redbridge as, needing to win themselves, they had levelled with a minute to go so still had a chance. The Bromley players stayed in a huddle at the centre circle but four minutes later the ground erupted with joy as news came that Wrexham had failed to win. 

“Explaining how he felt at the time, Bush said “It was surreal. It’s the first time I’ve been a part of it really, waiting ion the final day to see if you get in. Normally I’m at the other end in a relegation scrap” he joked  “but it was brilliant. 

“Sometimes, when you do the right things you get the right results. We’ve probably been a bit unlucky earlier on in the season with a few things but things changed and we just put ourselves in a position to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.”

Coming into the game, Notts County needed at least a point to guarantee home advantage in their first play off game so Bromley expected a difficult game.

“We knew the game plan.” confirmed Bush. “They were always going to come out of the traps fast. It was about trying to maintain control and then play our football in the second half which we did and again, credit to the staff. They put us in the position to take something out of games, to limit them from chances but also put us in a position to be able to go on and kick on from there.”

Having supporters back at Hayes Lane for the first time was an added bonus “It had been a feeling that you had got used to, having no supporters, especially away from home and that was our second game after the Aldershot, which was a good game for the neutral but tough on the hearts of Bromley fans.

To get to the position we’re in now with the fans here, it’s brilliant. For them to see how far we’ve come and to see how far the stadium has come. It meant that we could see off the season and start off the play-offs in the right way.

“You sometimes forget how big fans are for you, especially when you’re playing at home and we missed that a bit. Our home form isn’t the best but we took advantage of it at away games. Credit to the fans who came here today. Hopefully we can give them three more games.”

Their first play-off game is at Hartlepool United but Bush confirmed that they would travel full of confidence and with nothing to fear. He confirmed “I think we’ve taken four points off them this year and we halted their run for the title but we’ll get back to the drawing board, keep grafting and hopefully we’ll have a big game at the end of it.” 

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.