After the opening game of the season at Chorley if you’d told me that following eight games and one month into the new National League season Bromley would be unbeaten and sitting third in the table on eighteen points, I’d have laughed at you and suggested you should sober up. But that’s where we find ourselves, having followed that particularly dull 0-0 with some great results and performances of various styles.

Neil Smith has assembled a very decent squad, with competition for places in most areas and the new signings all look to have added something extra to the team. Not only that, but we now have more than one way of playing.

When teams are there to be got at we have attacked and looked to exploit their weaknesses, but in the case of Boreham Wood last Saturday we executed the old boxing style of ‘rope a dope’, letting Luke Garrard’s side have around 80% of the possession, but keeping them out of our box and then taking our chance when it came, with Michael Cheek netting the only goal of the match in first half injury time.

The improvement has also been seen when we have come from behind as in the win at Maidenhead Utd last Monday, where we scored two late goals to win 2-1 and also at Aldershot where we held out under pressure to win 1-0. As Smith has said these are games that we would have dropped points in last season. All of the league wins so far, with the exception of the 3-1 win over Ebbsfleet, have been by one goal and are testament to the strength of character of this new look Ravens side.

Of the new recruits Billy Bingham has settled in exceptionally well and put in several commanding displays in midfield, as has young forward Reeco Hackett-Fairchild playing out wide or behind Michael Cheek, a proven striker at this level,  in a 4-4-1-1 formation. Keeper Mark Cousins has been very solid and the new defensive additions Joe Kizzi and Chris Bush have provided more steel to the back line.

Home crowds have steadily held around the 1,500 mark, which given that we were only attracting 150 or so fifteen years ago is a remarkable achievement as the locals wake up to the fact Bromley have a very good side to watch.

For old heads like me, currently in my 42 year of watching Bromley having been to my first game when I was 6, it’s hard to take it all in. Match days have changed beyond all recognition, from knowing everyone there a few years back there are some games where I don’t see anyone I know! The new stand seems to have bedded in ok and has made the side terrace a lot less cramped. My only real grumble is the all white kit and the gold numbers, which are impossible to see from more than 20 yards away.          

September looks to be a tough month starting with a trip to Dagenham & Redbridge in front of the BT cameras this Wednesday and two more ex-Football league clubs in Chesterfield and Notts County coming to Hayes Lane, before league leaders Woking arrive later in the month. We also have trips to Eastleigh and Yeovil Town. If Bromley are still around the top seven by the end of this month then The Ravens will be looking well set for another memorable season at Hayes Lane.