We want to make 2018 a special year and we want to make sure people remember this year for the right reason, vows Bromley boss Neil Smith

BROMLEY manager Neil Smith says he wants to make 2018 a special year for his home-town club.

The Ravens go into the New Year sitting in ninth-place in the Vanarama National League table with 41 points from 27 points, a point adrift of seventh-placed Boreham Wood, who occupy the final play-off berth.

Reflecting on his side’s 2-1 defeat at Ebbsfleet United on Boxing Day, Smith said: “Just disappointed.  It wasn’t the greatest of games. We didn’t show the intensity we had in the last few games.  To go a goal down as well, from our perspective, a poor goal, we could have done better but then we showed character, like we have, to come back.

“Disappointed to give away another soft goal, after that we couldn’t take our opportunities. 

“I’ve looked at the footage, we had more shots and more passes than them without having that killer instinct, so I was disappointed to come away with a loss as I didn’t think we deserved to lose.”

Bromley then completed a remarkable double over Leyton Orient, as Louis Dennis’ strike sealed a famous 1-0 win at Brisbane Road on Saturday. 

The Ravens thrashed the O’s 6-1 at Hayes Lane in the fourth game of the season back in August and pulled off another great win in East London.

“They had a player sent off early on and during the season that hasn’t worked in our favour because sometimes we knew we’d done it,” said Smith.

“We knew we had to be at our best. A fantastic run from Josh Rees to create the goal and Louis Dennis is doing what he’s been doing all season and finished the chance off and then we had to dig in and get a clean sheet.  I believe if you keep a clean sheet, you win the game.

“To have 5,227 and 322 supporters of our own there, was just brilliant.  It just shows how far we’ve come.  We’ve come to a club like Leyton Orient and got the win.  To do the double over them this season is a fantastic achievement from the players and the club.  It just shows how far we’ve come and want to go as well.”

Bromley welcome Ebbsfleet United to Hayes Lane tonight, the second time that the live BT Sport cameras have come to the club in three seasons dining at the top table of non-league football.

“We know Ebbsfleet, they’re a very strong, good side. We played them at their place and we didn’t do ourselves justice and we want to do that tonight,” said Smith.

“Daryl McMahon has got a good bunch of boys there.  They’ve got a great squad with ex-League players in their side. They’ve got loads of players to call upon but we know we have to be at our very, very best to get a result, even though we’re at home. We want to knock that trend because we’ve not been getting results and we want to give our supporters something to shout about.

“Also being on the tele, you want to do ourselves justice. We can’t look at the television scenario. It’s a game of football against our local rivals who put one over us at their place and we want to get a result at ours.”

When asked what 2018 can bring Bromley Football Club – who are celebrating their 125^th anniversary – Smith wants it to be the best one ever!

“Anything it wants to! We want it for ourselves! Who would have thought we’d be going into the New Year sitting a point outside the play-offs – I don’t think many people would have given us that opportunity. The boys have worked hard and they deserve it through their hard work.

“We know it’s going to be even harder this year. People don’t give us the respect we deserve, going into the season the recruitment side but the boys have worked extremely hard to put us in that situation.

“We want to make it a special year, the 125^th anniversary year, and we want to make sure people remember this year for the right reason and so far we’ve done it in fits and starts.

“The two wins over Leyton Orient. There’s been massive strides at the club, we’re full-time, the Academy being what it is, The FA Youth Cup run and getting through to The FA Cup First Round.

“We want to see how far we can take this and we want to take this and we’ll give it everything we’ve got right up to the last game of the season.”

Smith finished the interview by saying, “Happy New Year and thanks for the support. I really appreciate it!”

Visit Bromley’s website: www.bromleyfc.net

Bromley  v  Ebbsfleet United
Vanarama National League
Monday 1 January 2018
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF

Article published: 11:20 – 01/01/2018