Royalists are a banana skin, warns Bromley boss Wakeling

It might have looked like a masterstroke but George Wakeling reckons there was more to Bromley's second-half turnaround at Billericay than the introduction of Nic McDonnell, reports www.bromleytimes.co.uk


McDonnell's two late strikes rescued a point and extended the Ravens' unbeaten run to nine in league and cup. And while some bosses might have been claiming credit for an inspired move, Wakeling admitted he did not know what was behind the improved second-half showing:

He said: "We weren't on the ball to start with and were lucky to go in at half-time only one down. I don't know what woke us up, but straight after the break we got ourselves together and had a go at them. We finished the game stronger and, late on, were the only team that was going to win it."

That said it is always good to have a player of McDonnell's calibre to call on, and his return to playing duties has coincided with a more mature look to the Bromley bench, something which Wakeling is glad to see.

"It's good to be able to put a player on like Nic and change the game," he added. "He's been injured so we've had to get on with it, but any manager would miss him. He's a regular goalscorer and you need them to be playing every week.

"A few weeks ago there were youth team players in the dugout - they will be good later on, but they're not quite ready yet."

Bromley travel to Windsor and Eaton on Saturday with the Royalists looking relegation certainties after winning only five league games so far, but Wakeling is urging caution ahead of what could be a banana skin for his team.

"If you look at their results it's always the odd goal," he said. "They've signed two or three players from the division above and they're trying to avoid relegation. Like every game in this division, it's going to be hard.

"But when we get it right, we're good enough, which is what I'll be telling my players. I've believed it all along, we're a good side.”