BANSTEAD ATHLETIC 3 BROMLEY 3 – LEAGUE 22/03/03

A game played on a pleasant Spring afternoon in a very end of season casual atmosphere, but it kept the small crowd gripped for the whole 90+ mins and ended with Macca making a point to the fans. The home side were obviously fired up by some comments in the Bromley Times match report from the first game, that they had found offensive.

Bromley took the lead on 2 mins when ex-Banstead man Bobby George combined well with Grant Watts and placed the return pass into the corner of the net. The Ravens should have pushed on from there, but within 6 mins the home side were level when Bromley’s offside trap was caught out and Mitchell got to the ball before Harwood and ran past him to score an open goal. Banstead took the lead on 16mins with an identical goal to their first, apart from this time Danny got to the ball first only to miss the ball and gift Mitchell again. The Ravens picked themselves up from this blow and equalised in great style on 21 mins. From 25 yards out Harney curled an unstoppable free kick just inside the left hand post for 2-2. Banstead were a very direct side and also made great use of Finnie’s long throw, which easily reached the six yard box on occasion. It looked like there would be more goals, but the half evened out and finished level.

Bromley played some really nice football after the break, their approach play was great to watch, but there was to be no end product to the possession and Banstead looked likely to strike on the break. This was to be the case on 72 mins when ex-Raven Marcel Dennis ran past several Bromley players before beating Danny with an unstoppable finish from just inside the box. With Myatt now partnering Manuel in centre midfield it looked a lost cause, but the Ravens did come back into the match and pushed forward. Adedji came on for a late debut and got stuck in up front. They eventually equalised on 90 mins when Banstead were caught pushing out from a corner and Grant Watts found himself unmarked in the box, turning sharply and shooting into the corner of the net for 3-3.

Quote for the game has to go to Macca who came over to the fans behind the goal at the end of the game and said, ‘Now you can see why I signed Chuck Martini.’ before running off to the dressing rooms obviously furious.

Team: Harwood, Smith, Harney, Butler, Harris, Manuel, Drewett, McKoy, George, G Watts, K Watts.

Subs: Martini, Adedji, Myatt, Wilfort, Amaning.