We know we’ve got to start doing better in the league and start moving up the table, says Bromley captain Jack Holland

BROMLEY captain Jack Holland says the club will now begin their rise up the Vanarama National League table.

Neil Smith’s men got their Buildbase FA Trophy campaign off to a winning start by beating their bitter-rivals Sutton United 2-1 in the First Round at Hayes Lane yesterday.

Paul Doswell’s side took the lead halfway through the first half, courtesy of Brandon Thomas-Asante finding top bins from 25-yards, to score his third goal of the season.

But former Ebbsfleet United winger Luke Coulson took the game by the scruff of the neck and put in a very impressive second half performance to turn the game around.

Bromley equalised on the hour-mark when striker Jonathan Hooper headed in Frankie Raymond’s corner to score on his home-debut following his loan move from Sky Bet League Two side Grimsby Town, before his strike partner George Porter notched his sixth goal of the season, heading in Frankie Sutherland’s free-kick just 176 seconds later.

Attention now turns to maintaining their Vanarama National League status, starting with a must-win home clash against Maidenhead United this coming Saturday.

Bromley are in eighteenth-place in the table with 24 points on the board from 23 games, while the Magpies are third-from-bottom with 21 points.

“Our bread and butter is the league.  We know we’ve got to start doing better in the league and start moving up the table and that’s where I believe as a team we should be going,” said Holland, 26.

“I think and I know the team thinks and the whole of the club, we have players that can so something special, I really believe it and I think we’re going to start coming into our own and hope this is the start of a run to get us back up where we think we belong.”

Progress on the new South Stand is evident at Hayes Lane and it would be a disaster if the club are hosting Vanarama National League South football in front of it in August.

“I think with the club as it is and the desire the club has to go forward, I think we have more than enough to stay up,” said the centre-half.

“I know people are putting us into a conversation – outside of the club – about being around the bottom but I know between us as the team, as the club, as a whole set, we know where we should be and I believe we’re going to be there.”

The upcoming festive period will make-or-break Bromley’s league campaign.

Bromley MUST BEAT the two sides below them in the table, Maidenhead United and Havant & Waterlooville (away, Saturday 29 December) and face a double header with Sutton United (away, Wednesday 26 December, home on Tuesday 1 January, 19:45 and live on BT Sport).

“I’ve just spoken to a few of the Sutton boys, we’ve done it for a few years with Sutton, we’ve had the double headers and we know what’s going to happen,” warned Holland.

“It’s going to be an absolute battle. Everyone’s got to go in knowing what’s it going to be and putting in 100% in these games.

“Not only Sutton but Havant and the games we have around it. It’s a massive period. It can shift a team from the bottom to the top or the top to the bottom so we’ll prepare as we ever have and hopefully come out well.”

Every season, Smith brings players that improves his squad but must start climbing the table and reach the magic figure of 52 points as quickly as possible to retain their league status.

Holland said:  “You could say we’re not doing as well (this season) being where we are in the table.

“We’ve had a lot of new faces come in and out but I think the squad that we have at the minute is the best I’ve been with. I know I say it every year but I do believe it.

“It’s probably one of the stronger and stronger group now with the players that we’ve recruited in and that’s fantastic from the gaffer and the management staff to kick us on.”

When asked what 2019 can bring his home-town club, Holland replied: “I think it can bring anything! We as a club have turned the corner now from where we were to where we want to be.  It’s massive over the Christmas period, get wins under our belt and in the run in get up to where we think we belong.”

Visit Bromley’s website: www.bromleyfc.co.uk

Bromley  v  Maidenhead United
Vanarama National League
Saturday 22 December 2018
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF