metpolice291204

Wakeling: Come and watch us! 

GEORGE WAKELING has admitted he is trying to attract the big crowds back to Hayes Lane after Bromley climbed up to sixth place in the Ryman League Division One table after their comfortable 2-0 win at second placed Metropolitan Police on Wednesday night.

The victory sets the Ravens up for Saturday's clash with third placed side Walton & Hersham at Hayes Lane and victory and if other results go their way, Wakeling's men could be sitting in second place at 5pm on New Years Day.

Wakeling has brought stability to the team.  In four league games the side has yet to conceed a goal and have netted eleven goals during this impressive spell.  The threat of departures to players if they don't perform has had the desired effect as Bromley now look like serious promotion contenders.

Can 2005 finally be the year when they finally ditch the bridesmaid's tag and clinch promotion for their long suffering fans?

Well, a comfortable victory at Metropolitan Police in East Molesey on Wednesday night may help their cause.

Bromley made their intensions known early on with midfield playmaker Gary Drewett threading a low pass for striker Adolph Amoako, whose shot was blocked by goalkeeper Stuart MacKenzie.  

Silver booted Solomon Taiwo passed to former Leyton Orient full-back Greg Tiffin who raced towards goal on the right hand side but his shot was straight at the main stay Metropolitan Police goalkeeper.

Dewett, however, tested the stopper with a low drive from 26 yards after 25 minutes in an impressive start from the visitors.

The home side took 32 minutes to have their first chance when Stuart Harte tested Andy Walker with a rasping 22-yard dipping drive, which the goalkeeper did well to push over.

Bromley deservedly opened the scoring five minutes later when MacKenzie spilled Taiwo's teasing cross from the right and midfielder Danny Carroll swiveled on the ball and from the edge of the six-yard box rifled the ball into the net.

The 28-year-old - who lives in Hampton - made a return to Bromley on a dual registration with Nationwide Conference South struggling neighbours Carshalton Athletic.  However, he hasn't ruled out a return to the Hayes Lane outfit.

When asked if it was good to be back with Bromley, the former Whyteleafe, Dulwich Hamlet, Stevenage Borough and Farnborough Town player said: "yes, and winning most importantly against a second placed team - couldn't gone much better."

Carroll, however, revealed he will be playing for Carshalton Athletic on Saturday but played for the Ravens after Wakeling - Billy Smith's assistant manager  at Colston Avenue before returning to Hayes Lane earlier in the month - contacted his close friend to ask if he could play the midfield ace.

"If I can get something sorted out with George, you never know" said Carroll.

"First of all George gave Billy Smith a call and asked if he could have me for the game and Billy kindly said yes, for a favour to help George out.

"I was only too happy to help him out."

However, just before the interval, Jon Daly headed Steve Flinn's free kick wide after ghosting in ahead of Tutu Henriques at the far post.

Police made a change at the break but couldn't get past a solid Bromley defence and were forced to shoot from distance.

Daly's right-footed 30-yard dipping effort was the closest, narrowly going over, and two Flinn efforts were never going to find the back of Walker's net.

Bromley, however, wrapped up an important victory, from their first shot on goal after the break, with 17 minutes left.

The goal was well worth waiting for!

Sam Okafor's high cross into the middle of the penalty area from the left flank was headed firmly out by central defender Kori Davis but Drewett met the ball with a sweet right-footed 25-yard volley that rocketed into the back of the net leaving MacKenzie rooted to the spot.

In the final minutes Harte's long range shot deflected off a Bromley head on it's way over the bar and Walker comfortably held Daly's far post header following Bryon Brown's flag kick.

Four wins out of four, and four clean sheets in the process has pleased Wakeling - as Bromley attracted the home side's second highest gate of the season after AFC Wimbledon.

"Another clean sheet, that the secret" he said.

"If we discipline ourselves as I said to the lads from the first day I took over - doing simple things correctly -it will take us on."

Since Wakeling replaced Stuart McIntyre as boss he has played with a lone striker in Amoako, until Mark Watson replaced Taiwo nine minutes after the break.

Wakeling added: "We enjoyed it.  We are the away team, we've scored two goals on a good pitch and they haven't had a shot, so it was a deserved victory."

Can Bromley deliver the goods against Walton & Hersham on Saturday?

Wakeling added: "I just know we have to get our own house in order and hopefully it's good enough to take us on."

Bromley's fans are pleased Wakeling has made an instant impact on his return to the club and the manager is pleased with his players.

"I mean these lads are listening - that's important to me.

"If they can keep on winning, let's get back the Bromley supporters that have been missing for a long time and that's my ambition.

"To get good crowds back to Bromley like I had when I was there before."


Metropolitan Police: Stuart MacKenzie, Stuart Harte, Steve Flinn, Kori Davis, Michael Mison, Jon Daly, Craig Brown (Bryon Brown 46), Andy Oxby, Rob Haworth, Paul Sears, Kevin Cooper.  Subs: Chris Cottam, Matthew Burns, Ian Whitby, Matt Fox (GK)

Bromley: Andy Walker, Greg Tiffin, Sam Okafor, Steve Potterill (Capt), Tutu Henriques, Tom Stradwick, Gary Drewett, Solomon Taiwo (Mark Watson 56), Adolph Amoako, Julian Curnow, Danny Carroll.  Subs: Matt Kember, Chris Hill, Jeremy Jones, Colin Luckett.

Attendance: 205
Referee: G Mugee
Assistants: V Penfold & A Moore