WWW.BROMLEYFC.COM - MATCH REPORT
CRAY WANDERERS 5 BROMLEY 2 – LEAGUE 23/10/04
For as good as Wednesday night was this was awful! On a wild, wet and windy afternoon at Hayes Lane our fellow tenants taught us a lesson in hard work, desire and will to win. We were opened up by quick attacking football and denied by solid resolute defence.
For the first 25 mins we actually played the better football and really looked the part. Drewett had a shot tipped onto the post by Northwood, Taiwo shot over, Watson just wide and Huggins was denied by another good save and then came the sucker punch. On Cray’s first meaningful attack Bremner was played clear on the left and struck a fierce shot past Walker for 1-0. Bromley rallied immediately and 8 mins later Bower pulled Watson back in the area for a penalty, when the ball seemed to be running out of play! Taiwo made his only positive impact on the game as he tucked away the spot kick for 1-1. We should have pushed on from here, but instead we were taken apart by an Amber whirlwind. A corner from the left was crashed home by Dave Gray on 38 mins and then in first half injury time Luckett gifted Jamie Wood with the ball and he smashed home the third! 3-1 at half time and Bromley’s defence in tatters.
The second half was played in even worse weather and only Cray wanted to go on and win the game. Bromley were happy to play the ball around, but there was no final ball or end product. Gray should have made it four but it hit Kempster on its way to the net and Bromley got a reprieve. Drewett was brought down on the edge of the box and Taiwo stepped up but his effort was tipped over by Northwood who turned his ankle on his was down from the save. Even with an injured keeper Cray were never in trouble and were on top for large spells. Macca switched to 3-5-2 bringing on Ikpa for Taiwo, but nothing changed for the Ravens. Bremner went close once more before he smashed in the fourth on 85 mins from a run down the left. Boua headed a late consolation for Bromley from a short corner, but in injury time Bremner completed his hat trick with another outstanding effort from outside the box. The final score 5-2 and a richly deserved win for the Wands who looked much more likely to be challenging for promotion come May. The ex-Bromley contingent of Gray, Rawlings, Tompkins, Kempster, Woolf and Myatt were delighted at the end.
Quote for the game: ‘Is that our season crashing back down to earth?’ – Steve-O
Team: Walker, Boua, Okafor, Rose, Luckett, Arkwright, Drewett, Taiwo (Ikpa), Huggins, Watsom, Bennetts (Hill).
Subs not used: Henriques, M Kember, Suleymanoglu.