We’re no longer looking at these clubs in awe of them, but just proud and privileged to be a part of them, says Bromley boss Mark Goldberg after his side made it Seven Heaven in Devon

Sunday 20th September 2015

BROMLEY manager Mark Goldberg says his side have earned the right to be upsetting the big boys in the Vanarama National League.

The Ravens pulled off a brilliant 7-3 win at Torquay United yesterday to send shockwaves around the Vanarama National League – to warn the big-boys that last season’s Conference South champions are no pushovers.

Moses Emmnauel, the artist formerly known as Moses Ademola, scored a first half hat-trick at Plainmoor, as Bromley inflicted Torquay United’s worst home defeat since they lost 8-1 to Scunthorpe United back in October 1995.

Goldberg took the then Conference South club to Plainmoor in FA Trophy Second Round in January 2015 and came away with a 4-0 defeat.

But second half goals from Jack Holland (who had switched from right-back to emergency forward), Louis Dennis, Anthony Cook (penalty) and a screamer from Ali Fuseini made it Seven Heaven in Devon.

Goldberg said: “Obviously very pleased to have got a result at Torquay, especially the margin involved on the basis that the last time we travelled down to Torquay was in the Trophy last year and we lost 4-0, so we had our own demons to exorcise.

“Although at half-time we were disappointed to concede on the half, which led them to believe they were still in the game, also with us with a lot of work to do at half-time on the basis that it was 3-2.

“But we played well enough to have a two-goal margin at half time. 

“We had to come out fighting and we had to come out believing that we could press on and get the result that we needed.

“We did better than that – we got the goal and another couple of goals, and it’s just disappointing that we conceded three sloppy goals but in the scheme of things we’re very pleased with the result.”

Goldberg contacted his former club Crystal Palace to hand goalkeeper Chris Kettings, 22, his Bromley debut, having secured him on loan while Alan Julian recovers from his back injury.

“Yes, I think he did well,” said the Bromley manager, who guided the club to their first league title in 54 years in April.

“It was difficult for him to come in. We did everything to make him comfortable but it’s always difficult for a new young player to come in with that much responsibility, especially on the back of Alan Julian being our player-of-the-season so far, but he did well.

“I think the first goal might have been a question mark on whether he should have come for the cross but other than that he did himself proud but he couldn’t really be faulted for any of the other goals.”

Goldberg was full of praise for winger/striker Emmuanel, who has now scored nine goals in the National League this season.

The 26-year-old legally changed his name from Ademola in July 2015 and Goldberg is delighted with his performances.

“Moses this year is proving to be a very confident player at this level, who is also working much harder for the team this year and it’s paying off for him because he’s not only scoring goals but he’s making goals.

“He’s doing exactly what a player of his quality, we were hoping that he was going to shine at this level and he’s done exactly that.

“Obviously, he’s been our biggest threat going forward, even from the wings, so we’re delighted with him and having complete performances at the moment.”

Bromley have won their last four league games and are making their more illustrious rivals sit up and take notice.

The Ravens are in ninth-place with 17 points from 11 games and are only three points adrift of the play-offs.

“I think that after 10 games – it’s 11 games now isn’t it – after ten games we were very satisfied with the recent run of form,” said Goldberg.

“We knew it would take us five or six games to adapt to the level but most importantly were working to a system that the whole squad is believing in.

“We’re training very hard on the training ground working to the system. What’s great for myself and my coaching staff is the fact that any player in the squad can slip into the system and do equally as well.

“It showed with Ben May going off injured at half-time. Even Jack Holland was asked to slip into a position up front from full-back and he played that position excellently well.

“The players see it day in, day out on the training ground and they all know everybody’s roles and responsibilities are and they know how to play the system and we’re adapting extremely well now.”

Remember that pre-season tweet from a Tranmere Rovers fan “dad, who are Bromley?” – well, Bromley go into Tuesday night’s round of matches sitting proudly one place above relegated Tranmere Rovers!

After playing Chester at home on Saturday, Goldberg takes his side to Prenton Park on 3 October and will be looking to upset another big club.

When asked what it feels like being higher than Tranmere Rovers in the league, Goldberg replied: “Well, we haven’t played Tranmere yet but obviously with the reputation of these bigger clubs we feel privileged to be amongst them in the league – but we feel now we’re earning the right to be there!

“We’re no longer looking at these clubs in awe of them, but just proud and privileged to be a part of them.”

Bromley welcome Kidderminster Harriers to Hayes Lane on Tuesday night.

Gary Whild’s side arrive in Kent sitting at the foot of the table without a win in 11 league games, collecting five draws along the way.

These are the games in Bromley’s history that they have slipped up in and Goldberg warns his side against complacency.

He said: “Well, we’ve just got to make sure that no complacency slips into play for us because we’ve been on a good run, but as soon as you’ve believed that you’ve arrived where you want to be, it’s a start of a slippery slope so we need to continue to believe but keep our feet firmly on the ground and carry out work as we do day in, day out on the training ground and make sure consistently in the way that we play, work hard and disciplined and hopefully we can get the points.”

When asked whether Bromley can claim a dream play-off place at the end of their first season in the top-flight of non-league football, Goldberg replied: “I think at the moment it’s fair to say that we’re just taking game by game and we believe that amongst ourselves that anything’s possible this year but the one thing that we want to make sure that isn’t possible is relegation and whatever happens beyond that we’ll look at it as being a positive.

“But we’re certainly not ruling out that we can compete with the teams in the top half of the table. 

“The top half of the table is where we want to be this year.”

Visit Bromley’s website: www.bromleyfc.tv/site

Bromley  v  Kidderminster Harriers
Vanarama National League
Tuesday 22nd September 2015
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF