CARSHALTON ATHLETIC 1 BROMLEY 4 – LEAGUE 01/03/03

This was the most surreal day of my life as a Bromley fan in over 25 years. With 10 men for an hour we managed to totally outclass a side who were 10 points clear at the top of the table and secure a vital win. As I walked into the ground I was confronted by Loyalist paraphernalia hung on the side terrace to my right and, in direct contrast, a multiracial crew of teenage cheerleaders to my left. Carshalton is surely a club of bizarre contrasts. There were little old ladies selling home made stuff and being friendly as only yards away a group of Chelsea shirted thugs loitered in the entrance of the bar staring, pointing and making throat cutting gestures to us! It’s amazing what Graham Roberts brings to a club…

It had rained hard for an hour prior to the kick off and the pitch was very wet on top, but perfectly playable. The game started in lively fashion. Carshalton went close early on, but Bromley looked good on the break and Kirk Watts especially showed why Roberts had been desperate to sign him last season. Chuck was called upon to make several good catches from high balls and showed his strength. The Robins were a typical Roberts’ side - in many ways they were strong, tough, physical and direct, but The Ravens were not to be out done and each player gave everything. On 37 mins the commitment of both sides spilled over into naked aggression as virtually every player got involved in a mass punch up. Remarkably, once it had calmed down the Ref only saw fit to send off Wade Falana and book two others. With only 10 men things were going to be tough for Bromley, but they made the perfect response to the increased odds against them by scoring on 40 mins. Watts crossed high for Ball who headed down and in from close range - 1-0 and we went crazy as Steffan ran towards us! Bromley dug in for the rest of the half and the rain came down again.

The Ravens came out flying in the second half and within 3 mins we were 2-0 up, after Drewett played the perfect through ball to Watts who went on to put a sublime chip over the keeper and send the HLO into delirium. Carshalton were rocked and their players began arguing amongst themselves. On 53 mins they were thrown into further turmoil when Watts won the ball on the right and although he seemed to have ran the ball out, hit a low cross which eventually fell to Luckett who turned the ball in through a crowd of defenders for 3-0! Keeper Searle nearly exploded at the Linesman in the following protests. Only 2 mins later The Robins grabbed one back when a low cross was headed home by Pye for 1-3. Bromley now faced their sternest test of the day as the home side pushed on down the slope. The Ravens defended deeper and deeper, but Harris and Vines dug in, the centre midfield of Drewett & Odunsi played some wonderful football and McKoy and Watts out on the wings took the pressure off with some fine tricks tormenting the Carshalton full backs. The Robins went close with a couple of headers but Chuck was in fine form. Ball provided a great holding target up front on his own and got a richly deserved ovation when he was replaced by Amoako 10 mins from time. It was Adolph who was involved in the final goal when he ran though with Odunsi and his intelligent decoy run left Leke one on one with the keeper and he rounded him perfectly before slotting the ball home and putting the cap on the win. 4-1 to Bromley I could hardly speak, Nick over from San Francisco must have thought he was watching another club! Adolph and Kirk both went close breaking from midfield, before the final whistle blew on this outstanding display and the celebrations started for real.

As we left the ground still singing, the owners of the Loyalist flags beckoned us over for a fight, but this was no day for fighting this was a day for fun!

Quote for the game: ’Make mine a treble Guinness!’

Team: Martini, Smith, Luckett, Vines, Harris, Odunsi, Drewett, McKoy, Ball, Falana, K Watts.

Subs: Harwood, Smith Jnr, Amoako, Butler, G Watts.