tilbury240704

                            Full steam ahead for Bromley

BROMLEY manager Stuart McIntyre admitted he was pleased with the commitment shown by his twenty-two man squad  - but reminded everyone there is still plenty of work ahead of their Ryman League Division One opener against Horsham - at Hayes Lane in three weeks time.

But there were many pleasing aspects from their comfortable victory over the Dockers, who had already played two pre-season friendlies.

Paul Joynes' Essex side had already defeated Eton Manor 2-0 seven days ago, and held full-time outfit Billericay Town to a goalless draw in midweek.

Bromley started their first game of their pre-season programme brightly and tested home goalkeeper Paul Woods after twelve minutes.

South African full-back Steve Potterill hit a twenty-five yard drive, that saw the goalkeeper dive low to his left and had to grasp the ball quickly as goal-poacher Adolph Amoako, who found the net 25 times last season, was ready to pounce on the loose ball.

Potterill was on the receiving end of a bad two-footed challenge from left-sided player Elliot Styles, whose name ended up in referee Gary Jorden's notepad.

Mark Watson, who earlier had two penalty appeals turned down, opened the scoring after 25 minutes, and carried on where the former Lewes striker left off at the end of  last season, when he banged in five goals in only eight matches.

A patient move from the Kent side started with Potterill playing the ball inside to Gary Drewett in the middle of the park and the playmaker sprayed the ball to impressive left-winger Scott Bennetts.

The winger, who caught the eye of the Bromley manager in the two games he played for the Metropolitan Police against Bromley last season, has also played for Hampton and Farnborough Town.  He teased his marker, made a darting run across the face of the penalty area before cutting the ball back for Colin Luckett, to deliver a superb cross for Watson inside the penalty area.

Despite being marked, Watson sent a looping header from 16 yards towards goal, and the ball dropped inside the left post despite the efforts from the goalkeeper to keep it out.

Visiting goalkeeper, Alex O'Reilly, who was with Gravesend & Northfleet last season, made a breathtaking save from a Tilbury free kick, just before the half-hour mark.

With a five-man wall in front of him, the Irish goalkeeper flew high to his right to push over Jason Moore's left footed 24-yarder, which was flying towards the top corner of the net.

O'Reilly, who is vowing for the number one jersey at Hayes Lane, made another one handed save from the resulting corner kick, and when he was beaten he had Potterill to thank for making a saving headed goal-line clearance, moments after Bromley increased their lead in the 37th minute.

And the goal already has goal of the season written all over it, as Bromley played keep-ball possession for a while, spraying the ball around the pitch.

Former Millwall midfielder, Solomon Taywo, who ended last season at Banstead Athletic, looks to be the player the Hayes Lane outfit so desperately need in the middle of the park with his confidence on the ball and his penetrating runs.

The youngster played a role in the second goal, but Luckett played the killer pass for Watson who played a deft lay off with his chest inside the Tilbury penalty area into Gary Drewett's path.

His twelve yard shot came off the right post before finding the back of the net to end his goal drought, where he didn't find the back of the net during an injury ravaged campaign last term.

Drewett, who appears to have rediscovered his fitness that made him a hit with the Hayes Lane faithful following his move from Sutton United in 2001, almost doubled his tally within five minutes of the re-start, but his 20 yard effort was saved by substitute goalkeeper Dave Hudson.

On the hour mark, Tilbury's experienced striker, former Dagenham & Redbridge and Thurrock hit-man, Paul Cobb should have done better with a low shot from six yards, but substitute goalkeeper, former Whyteleafe and AFC Wimbledon stopper, Matt Martin got down quickly at the near post to make a comfortable save.

Bromley wrapped up the comfortable victory in the 77th minute when substitute striker Paul Vines left the last defender in his wake, went inside the goalkeeper and showed composure before rolling the ball into an empty net eight yards out.

Speaking after the game, Bromley boss Stuart McIntyre admitted: "Pleased with the commitment, with the desire to get the ball down and play football. The second goal, even the first goal came from good possession.  The second goal particularly, when we played the ball confidently, and patiently and created the opening with a good finish from Gary Drewett.

"And then, Alex O'Reilly, who was at Gravesend last year, made a couple of first-class saves after that."

The Scot added: "I think the pleasing thing was the work-rate.  To get the work-rate in the first game of the season, on top of the work that we've put in pre-season was pleasing and encourages me  - we can build on that."

However, the manager reminded people there is still a lot of hard work ahead of their Ryman League opener against Horsham in three weeks time.

Bromley will expect a tougher clash against Fisher Athletic in their next pre-season friendly on Tuesday night.  This game, being played at Greenwich Borough's Harrow Meadow ground in Eltham Green Road, Eltham, kicks off at 7.30pm.

And McIntyre's men travel to Go Travel Kent League promotion hopefuls Thamesmead Town on Saturday (3pm) before hosting Crystal Palace, when the Premiership newcomers officially open the new floodlights at Hayes Lane on Tuesday 3rd August (7.45pm) before Bromley finish off their pre-season programme with home matches against Erith & Belvedere (Saturday 7th August, 3pm) and Beckenham Town (Tuesday 10th, 7.45pm)

McIntyre added: "We've still got a lot of work ahead.  We've got the best part of three weeks now until the season starts - there is a long way until the Horsham game."

Solid central defender, Mark Willy admitted he is relishing the opportunity to skipper the side.

The former Wimbledon youngster, who made an immediate impact at the back after joining from Cray Wanderers last summer, and was the only player to play the entire 90 minutes at Tilbury, added: "I stayed injury free last season so I played my fair share of games.

"Being at the back is probably the best position to play for a captain as you can see everything on the pitch.

"And it is a confidence booster, I am just trying to help the others really."

Tilbury:  Paul Woods, Dean Cleaver, Elliot Styles, Tom Davey, Martin Neufville, Colin Wall, Michael Hart, Paul Cobb, Danny Harris, Jason Moore, Keith Wilson.  Subs: (from) Dave Hudson (GK), Gary Howard, Callan Ware, Terry Levey, George Durrant, Kevin Ayres, Jason Hannis, John Ray, Ian Hilaire

Bromley: Alex O'Reilly (Matt Martin HT), Steve Potterill (Chris Hill 72), Colin Luckett (Tony Russell HT, Paul Kember 75), Matt Kember (Tim Murdoch HT), Mark Willy, Danny Arkwright (Mthuthuzeli "Tutu" Henriques HT), Gary Drewett (Anthony Pace 66), Solomon Taywo (Mark Roberts 69), Mark Watson (Bobby George HT), Adolph Amoako (Paul Vines HT), Scott Bennetts (Joel Bevis 58).