BROMLEY 0 WALTON & HERSHAM 3 – LEAGUE 06/09/03

As I sat behind the goal still reeling from the news that Macca had got rid of Kirk Watts the familiar feeling of despair you get watching Bromley FC crept over me. I watched in disbelief as Macca’s tactical master plan of whacking long high balls to two 5’6” strikers and playing young inexperienced players out of position failed miserably. We’ve gone way backwards the last few weeks. Walton are no great team, they kick anything in their way and then launch the ball long to two fast forwards. Their back four are no nonsense, but they get the job done. Within seconds of the start Bromley debutant Leroy Huggins was scythed to the ground by Hunter and with the ref failing to get a grip of the over physical Swans they continued their intimidating assault for the next 45 mins. Elbows, late tackles and blatant obstruction went unpunished by Mr Overall and the Ravens went into hiding. Even their manager Batty got in on the act kicking Mark Willy as he went to retrieve the ball. Willy had to go off injured, from a different foul, and youngster Chris Nunn got his debut at left back, with Luckett out of position in the centre, despite Butler being on the bench. On 44 mins Walton took the lead - after never really threatening our goal a fantastic strike from 35 yards by Coggin flew into the roof of the net out of the blue for 0-1 at the break.

The second half saw the balance of play switch completely and the Swans dominated the whole piece. Only Danny Harwood’s brilliance stopped it from being 8 or 9! The ineffectual Nolan was finally taken off and poor David Smith was played out of position on the left and Huggins who’d had no balls supplied to him all game came off for Reid. There was a brief rally, Tucker made a great save from Potterill, but nothing changed and on 75 mins a great Walton move was coolly finished by Gibbs. Only 5mins later they made it 3 when Hunter walked the ball round the defence and rolled it in unchallenged. Harwood made several fine saves as Walton began to take the piss and Bromley prayed for the final whistle. Under Macca we continue to look like a team in perpetual pre-season, never keeping the same team for long and constantly changing unfathomable tactics. Only Potterill and McKoy looked any good today.

Quote for the game, ‘I can’t believe he’s released Kirk Watts!’

Team: Harwood, Potterill, Luckett, Smith, Smith Jnr, Willy, Forbes, McKoy, Amoako, Huggins, Nolan.

Subs: Nunn, Butler, Drewett, Wade, Reid.