WWW.BROMLEYFC.COM - MATCH REPORT
STAINES TOWN 3 BROMLEY 1 – LEAGUE 09/03/04
One of the last, if not the final nail was driven into Bromley’s top six coffin on a cold Tuesday night in Middlesex, where we were well beaten by a good Staines side. The game started with a controversial incident when Staines keeper Lovett appeared to have handled the ball outside his area, but the linesman refused to acknowledge it. Macca put out a rugged looking team playing 4-4-2 and we were actually looking ok when from out of the blue Kezie Ibe struck a 25 yarder and it crashed into the roof of the net for 1-0. Bromley were all of a sudden shaken and failed to respond before going 2-0 down on 17 mins when the defence were caught flat. Knight blocked two shots only for Hunter to knock in the rebound. Every ten minutes throughout the game a Staines player would go down injured when we were in possession and then the ball would be thrown back to them at the restart! On 38 mins we finally got a lifeline when Falana did well on the right and his low cross was superbly controlled by Bobby George who turned and crashed the ball into the net for 2-1. Half time came with us still in it.
The second half started with us looking ok. Myatt and Falana both went close with headers and sub Amaoko had a low shot well saved at the near post by Lovett. We looked set to make a game of it when a series of silly mistakes gifted Staines their third and crucial goal. Smith rushed a free kick before the players were set to receive it, it was cleared over Wilfort who was left stranded and Ibe ran on to the ball and beat Knight with a great finish - 3-1 and game over. Falana was easily the best player for Bromley winning loads of balls and running his heart out for the club, but his support from the midfield was non-existent. McKoy had a nightmare and this was capped by a hospital ball, which he played to Kember that saw him scythed down by Gell on 83 mins. After lengthy treatment Kember went off injured and Gell was sent off for a second yellow card. The game came to it’s inevitable consequence in an atmosphere more akin to a funeral, Macca’s refusal to make attacking substitutions meant we couldn’t take advantage of them having ten men and we all left in silence.
Quote for the game: ‘Not finishing in the top six and getting to the Kent Cup Final is like your wife leaving you taking the kids, only leaving the TV, but disconnecting the cable!’ – Stu.
Team: Knight, Smith, Luckett, Willy, Wilfort, Kember, B George, K George, Myatt, Falana, McKoy.
Subs: Amoako, Vines, Potterill, Harney, Harwood.