Let's hope we can go and claim a massive scalp, says Bromley match-winner Danny Waldren

Waldren, 25, scored both the Ravens’ goals as they survived a battering from Southern League Division One South & West side Evesham United to win 2-1.

Waldren opened the scoring inside six minutes, finishing off a move involving Moses Ademola and Louis Dennis, before hosts Evesham United equalised eight minutes before half-time through Ashley Edenborough’s header.

But Waldren popped up to head home Dennis’ corner five minutes into the second half to ensure boss Mark Goldberg has guided the club to The FA Cup First Round a remarkable five times in nine years.

“It means the world. It means the world to me, the gaffer and the boys in the changing room,” said Waldren.

“The goals are just an added bonus for me. The main thing is the boys got through to the next round and that’s exactly what we did today, so I’m happy.”

Evesham United were a credit to their league and they gave the Vanarama Conference South side a scare in front of the largest crowd of the season (811) at Jubilee Park.

Waldren said: “It was exceedingly tough to be honest.  They were a very good little team. A lot better than really expected to be honest and they’ve given us a really tough test.

“The club overall is a good little club. They’ve got something going well down here.  The fans’ got behind them and a few of their players have got good ability so credit to our players. We’ve done really well to stick it out and to get the win.”

Bromley were the favourites to progress today, but Evesham United gave them a scare. It was a typical, enthralling FA Cup tie.

Waldren said: “It certainly was! Pressure comes with games like that. Everyone expects us to win comfortably and no game in The FA Cup is going to be easy, no matter who you’re playing.

“That’s been shown over the years. That’s why The FA Cup is The FA Cup. It’s not The FA Cup without the giant-killings. 

“Now hopefully we’ve done our part to get through here and teams haven’t beaten us so now hopefully we can be the giantkillers. Let’s hope so!”

Waldren, who joined Bromley in July 2011, played in the FA Cup 3-0 defeats away to both Leyton Orient and Fleetwood Town and heaped praise on Goldberg for his remarkable record in the competition.

“That is certainly a brilliant record and full credit.  He’s absolutely superb.  He’s stuck behind us every year. He knows exactly what we’re about and full credit to him.

“He’s got us here five times! Different class.  You can’t ask much more from the manager.

“I’ve been here for a while. I’d like to think myself as a loyal player. The club’s looked after me and I’ve enjoyed being at the club.

“The fans are fantastic. The players’ have come in and have been fantastic and the gaffers got full faith in me, like I’ve got full faith in him and that’s all what matters.”

Waldren, who would play anywhere on the pitch (including in goal) for Goldberg is a fans’ favourite at Hayes Lane.

He was full of praise for central defender Rob Swaine, 26, who made his return after a seven-week injury lay-off – as well as heroic goalkeeper Seb Brown, 24, who pulled off three world-class saves to prevent Bromley being on the end of a FA Cup giant-killing.

“Rob’s superb. He’s one of the best characters that I’ve been in the changing room with,” added Waldren.

“He gets everybody up for it. He’s got this crazy mentality of being so loud and outrageous but everybody loves it and everybody loves him.  He’s an absolute monster of a player when he’s playing for us.  He wins everything in the air. He’s a massive threat from set-pieces. He’s loud and commanding. He’s everything a centre midfielder like me would want behind me. It’s brilliant to have him back.”

And praising shot-stopper Brown, who was playing League Two football for AFC Wimbledon last season, Waldren added: “He’s been amazing in the last few weeks to be honest.  He’s a top class goalkeeper. Being at a Football League club and having a contract or whatever you have down there doesn’t mean you’re a mug!

“He’s got to have something about him and from what I see in training and what I saw on the pitch today and other games he’s got something about him.

“I’m really pleased for him because maybe a few questions were asked about him and the defence at the start of the year but as he’s going on now we’re really doing well and keeping a few clean sheets. Unfortunately we didn’t today but he was absolute superb.  You can’t take that away from him. Different class.”

Bromley have been away from home in three of their four First Round ties under Goldberg and when asked who he’d like to play in two weeks’ time, Waldren said: “I’ve said previously to get a big club, a big League One club, would be amazing.

“Maybe we can get someone who we are capable of beating. We’re capable of being anybody on our day.  League Two, League One. We really are, when we’re on it so to get someone that we feel that we’ve got a very good chance of progressing to the next round. I’ll take that.

“One of the big guns, Sheffield United, even a Portsmouth of this world would be amazing, really amazing.

“We expect the pressure off us and it makes things a little bit easier and let other teams deal with the pressure so let’s hope we can go and claim a massive scalp.”

Bromley have never beaten Football League opposition in The FA Cup during their entire history and the last time that they won a First Round tie was back in the 1945-46 season.

The Hayes Lane outfit have now reached The First Round fourteen times in their history and there is a belief within the squad to create history for the famous Kent club.

Bromley return to domestic matters on Tuesday night when they welcome Maidstone United to Hayes Lane in the Kent Reliance Cup First Round.

Jay Saunders’ side stunned Vanarama Conference side Welling United to reach The FA Cup First Round for the first time since reforming, thanks to goals from Jack Parkinson and Frannie Collin in front of an all-ticket crowd of 2,226.

Jake Gallagher was on target for Jamie Day’s side.

Elsewhere, Dartford inflicted Burgess Hill Town’s first defeat in 22 games with a 3-1 win at Princes Park.

Harry Crawford scored twice, before Elliot Bradbrook scored a penalty to knock out the Ryman League Division One South leaders.

Dover Athletic welcome Vanarama Conference South side Eastbourne Borough to Crabble on Tuesday night after a goal-less draw at Priory Lane.

Southern Counties East Football League side Greenwich Borough travel to Kidderminster on Sunday to try to knock out Vanarama Conference North side Worcester City.