bromu18ve&b040404

More progress made as Bromley notch third successive victory
Bromley 6-1 Erith & Belvedere
MUSH Kent Youth League Under 18 Northern Division
Sunday 4 April 2004

Derek Parnham, manager of Bromley's under eighteen side, is encouraged with his team's recent performances that have seen them win their last three games, as they bid to climb the MUSH Kent Youth League Under 18 Northern Division table, and show their true potential, writes Stephen McCartney.

Keeping the players who want to play for the club and releasing the players who aren't pulling their weight, has had the desired effect as Parnham's boys have turned their season around.  Recording victories over Dulwich Hamlet (4-0) and Ten Em Bee (2-0), troubled club Erith & Belvedere were thrashed 6-1 at Bromley's YMCA Ground in Grove Park Road, Mottingham today.

Andrew Alphonso-Dalhouse has played a major part in the team's turnaround, and the Sydenham based former Queen's Park Rangers youngster, continued his impressive form today, netting a hat-trick, and has now scored thirteen goals in the last eight games for Bromley.

Missing Dean Cairns (bruised foot) and Danny Cossington (back) Bromley drafted in two players from the club's under sixteen squad, Guy Bushell at centre back and Joe Kinchin.  However, another player from the under sixteen's, Rhys Robinson was unavailable due to a school skiing trip.

Bromley opened the scoring after fifteen minutes when good passing in midfield started by Jamie Leggett saw Alan Owens receive the ball after coming in from the left to score from eight yards.

Three minutes later, Bromley doubled their lead when the referee harshly penalised the visiting goalkeeper for saving a sliced clearance from his defender.  However, Bromley captalised on the mistake and after seeing a gap, James Falaise took advantage, curling a left-footed shot into the left corner.

The visitors scored their only goal of the game after 20 minutes following a corner kick which was stabbed home by their left back, coming in on the blind side, to stab home past goalkeeper Kunle Lanal.

It took Alphonso-Dalhouse twenty-four minutes to score a second half hat-trick as Bromley stamped their authority on the game.  His first strike, after 50 minutes, saw him receive the ball from Falaise, he used his strength to fend off two challengers before firing low into the net.

His second goal came ten minutes later and was the best goal of the game.  Chris Hill played the ball into him and after holding off the defender the on-form striker shot across the goalkeeper into the bottom right hand corner on the right hand side of the penalty area.

Before the striker scored his third and Bromley's sixth, Owens scored his second after 68 minutes when he latched onto a defence splitting pass before slotting home.

Alphonso-Dalhouse wrapped up the deserved victory in the 74th minute when a long punt out of defence from Michael Sibley gave the striker a sniff of goal.  Despite being pulled back by a defender inside the penalty area, the referee waved play on and the ball found the back of the net.

Speaking after the game, a delighted Parnham praised his players.  He said: "We went with a game plan and again it has worked.  That's not down to me, it's down to the players involved.  The group of players we've got at the moment want to work and improve.  You could say in a way it's playing to our strengths."

Parnham praised the two players that have made the step up from the under sixteen squad.

He added: "Guy Bushell played at centre back.  He is not normally a marker, he is normally a sweeper, but today he played as a marker and did an excellent job on his under eighteen debut.  If he continues to play the way he did today, he will push for an under eighteen spot for the rest of the season, along with Rhys Robinson, who was not called in today due to a school skiing holiday."

Parnham also praised another player from the clubs under sixteen squad - Joe Kinchin - son of under sixteen manager, Steve.

Parnham said: "Joe only played for fifteen minutes, but what he did do was exceptionally good and you would have thought he had been playing the whole game.

"The under sixteen players are adapting to what I am asking them to do.  Both players were not overawed with the strength and size of their opponents and one instance Guy Bushell made a diving header inside his own six yard box where other players wouldn't have gone, as feet start to fly when the ball is only two feet from the ground."

Once again, Parnham was pleased with Alphonso-Dalhouse and the rest of the team for sending Erith & Belvedere home pointless.

Parnham added: "Once again, ten out of ten marks go to Andrew Alphonso-Dalhouse for scoring yet another hat-trick, where he showed power, strength and pace and also a cool head to finish his goals under extreme pressure.

"Today, everybody played their part and it would be unfair to pick out anyone particular.

"Having said that, praise must go to the two unused substitutes - Tobi Mackinde and Ricky Hill - for being patient.  Ricky has just returned from a groin strain.

"The most pleasing part of today's game was the fact in the second half we didn't conceed anything, played in windy conditions, and kept the ball on the floor and we took our chances when they came.

"Also in the second half, Erith & Belvedere were restricted to only one opportunity, if you can call it one, but the shot went out towards the corner flag."

Bromley return to league action next Friday, and Parnham hopes it will be a Good Friday with a trip to Long Lane. 

However, Parnham anticipates a difficult game, but feels his players can notch up their fourth success on the trot.

He added: "Long Lane will be a difficult game, but if they boys go there believing they can beat them and still believe in the way they are playing we will definitely get something out of the game.  We will set our stall out for us and won't worry about them."

Bromley:  Kunle Lanal, Peter Wilcox, Jamie Leggett, Guy Bushell, Michael Sibley, Alan Owens, Chris Hill (Joe Kinchin 75), James Falaise, Joe Bell, Jack Hicks (Sul Meer 87), Andrew Alphonso-Dalhouse (Ugur Ozdemir 75) Subs: Tobi Mackinde, Ricky Hill.

Meanwhile, Bromley's under fifteens beat Sheerness East 2-0 at home.

Forthcoming Bromley Youth Team Fixtures over Easter
Good Friday:
Under 18 -  away  -  Long Lane  -  11.00am
Under 15 -  Home - Erith & Belvedere - 2.00pm

Easter Sunday:
Under 16 -  Home  - Erith & Belvedere - 2.00pm
Under 15 - away  -  Dover Athletic

Easter Monday
Under 15  -  away  -  Milton Athletic

(Home games at YMCA, Grove Park Road, Mottingham)