Wakeling: Greenway can do well for himself in the future (EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW)

Bromley lock horns with Billericay Town for the third time in just ten days at New Lodge on Tuesday night, with a place in the Westview Cup final at stake, writes Stephen McCartney.

 

With the first leg score at 2-2, the Kent side do, however, have the upper hand over their Essex rivals, as they’re unbeaten in the four meetings between the two sides.

Jones Awuah’s goal was enough for Bromley to collect all three points at Hayes Lane in their Ryman Premier League clash back in November.

But Billericay must have felt they had gained revenge at New Lodge on 11^th March, but two goals from top-scorer Nic McDonnell in the last eleven minutes meant honours were even in a 2-2 draw.

The two sides met again just three days later in the first leg of this competition at Hayes Lane and after McDonnell netted his 20^th goal of an injury plagued campaign, Donal O’Sullivan, formerly of Welling United, Ashford Town and Southall, scored a dramatic injury time leveller for Bromley to make things interesting for the return leg in Essex.

Bromley go into the game, having fought hard for all three points in difficult conditions at second from bottom side Windsor & Eton yesterday, although Billericay won 2-0 at promotion chasing Fisher Athletic.

Adam Greenway netted his first senior goal for the club when he scored the only goal of the game, pleasing his manager, George Wakeling.

“Yesterday’s win at Windsor was a scrappy game,” the manager admitted.  “They were fighting for their lives, very windy and a big slope on the pitch.

“But over the 90 minutes we were worthy winners.  We battled really hard, several chances were created, although we only took one – I was pleased with the commitment.”

Victory in Berkshire stretches Bromley’s unbeaten streak to eleven competitive games.

“It’s very easy to throw in the towel,” said Wakeling.  “We are not doing that.  We are showing a lot of character and we did Saturday.

The 62-year-old, meanwhile, has high hopes for right-sided midfielder Greenway, whose impressed since being handed his first team chance.

“He’s still a young lad, he’s learning and I like his attitude to the game,” praised Wakeling.  “He’s committed, wants to do well and he’s a winner.  He can do well for himself in the future.”

Bromley will be boosted with the return to fitness of influential midfielder pair Danny Carroll, whose shaken off a week long virus, and Gary Drewett, whose been “unavailable”.

“There’s an opportunity for us,” said Wakeling, as he aims to guide the club to their first cup final since Ford United (now Redbridge) were beaten 1-0 in the 2003 London Senior Cup Final at Dagenham & Redbridge under former boss Stuart McIntyre.

He added: “We’ve got Danny Carroll and Gary Drewett back so it’s looking quite healthy.
“I know they’ve got a couple back from their suspensions so it’s looking good for a good game.”

Bromley host Ryman League Division One leaders Ramsgate in the semi-finals of the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday, 4^th April, but before that Leyton visit Hayes Lane on Saturday.

“We won at their place 1-0, we appreciated how hard it was,” Wakeling recalled of their midweek win in East London at the beginning of October.

“We know from experience they’re all hard games.  I keep saying that and that’s how there planning out.

“At the end of the day we give them respect but want to beat them.”

With seven league games remaining, Wakeling, whose only got Adam Locke missing due to long-term injury, added: “We want to finish as high up this table as we possibly can."

* Meanwhile, I am still awaiting a positive response from Bromley FC with regards to my current situation.

This article proves there is no malice towards the club – quite the opposite really – and I feel I should be allowed to cover all games at Hayes Lane.

It will be interesting to know which other media sources will be previewing Tuesday night’s game at Billericay…….have I made my point?

Also, having just checked my website statistics since our revamp in late January, our top SEVEN articles (that have attracted the most hits) have been about Bromley FC.  That proves Bromley fans visit www.kentishfootball.co.uk for news on their club and that I have a good reputation with all Kent football managers.

I find it very sad that one or two people, and they know who they are, hold grudges.  It is very clear that I don’t.  Maybe we should arrange a meeting to settle this matter once and for all?

Stephen McCartney, Editor

Billericay Town (2)  v  Bromley (2)
Westview Cup Semi-Final Second Leg
Tuesday 21^st March 2006
Kick Off 7:45pm
At New Lodge, Blunts Wall Road, Billericay, Essex CM12 9SA