bromvwhyt280204

Thursday 01st September 2005

Bromley need better home comforts

Next three are away from home as McIntyre's Men aim for top six finish

Bromley 2-2 Whyteleafe

Ryman League Division One South

Saturday 28th February 2004

Stephen McCartney reports from Hayes Lane

In eighteen Ryman League Division One South matches this season, Bromley have won, drawn and lost six games a piece at their well looked after and sponsorship filled home at The Clive Christian Stadium in Hayes Lane.

Stuart McIntyre's men will be looking ahead to their next three league games, on the road at Croydon Athletic (Tuesday), Tooting & Mitcham United (next Saturday) and at Staines Town (Tuesday week) as the Ravens always perform better away from home.

Bromley have won nine games, drawn three and lost only three on their travels this season, and will be looking for a good return in their next three away games as they aim to finish in the top six this season.

McIntyre, however, was without skipper John Myatt (groin), Bobby George (ankle), Paul Kember and Jason McKoy who all failed pre-match fitness tests before their home clash against sixteenth placed neighbours Whyteleafe, who were without former Bromley striker, and the league's highest goalscorer, Mark Tompkins (back).

Whyteleafe opened the scoring after only 130 seconds when Dominic Barclay laid the ball to his left for Chris Dickson to fire low past goalkeeper Danny Harwood and into the bottom far corner of the net.

It took Bromley nine minutes to create their first opening when Colin Luckett's throw in to Paul Vines who turned his marker before floating a shot narrowly over Richard Lidbury's crossbar.

Three minutes later the home side almost drew level when Mark Hammond's corner kick was met by Gary Drewett and Landry Zahana-Oni before Kevin George's horizontal scissor kick clipped the right upright from 12 yards.

Hammond's cross bounced awkwardly for Lidbury and VInes lashed the loose ball well wide of the target before Graham Harper's whipped in free kick evaded Billy Jackson, Barclay and Leigh Douce as the Whyteleafe trio came rushing into the penalty area.

Moments later, Harwood's clearance fell to Dickson 35 yards from goal down the middle but the ball bounced kindly for the Bromley goalkeeper, maybe touching him slightly, before bouncing wide of the right post for a goal-kick.

Whyteleafe increased their lead, however, eight minutes before half time.

The free kick was taken on the right touchline, some 16 yards from the right corner flag by Dickson. He whipped in the free kick, Bromley defender Colin Luckett ducked instead of heading the ball out of the penalty area, but the ball bounced on the edge of the penalty area and found the top far top corner of the net.

Bromley manager Stuart McIntyre reacted at half time and replaced Harwood for former Cray Wanderers shot-stopper Dean Mann, and the disappointing Hammond was replaced by South African defender Steve Potterill.

The Scottish Bromley manager used his motivation skills during the half time break to good affect as Bromley came out onto the pitch with much more drive, urgency and played with a higher tempo looking to pull back the two goal deficit.

It took Bromley six minutes to find the back of the net. Bromley striker Paul Vines was elbowed by Mark Dickinson off the ball but the assistant referee on the stand side of the pitch made a brave decision and waved for Referee's Mr S Pryor's attention.

After a discussion, Pryor pointed to the penalty spot and brandished Dickinson a straight red card and Adolph Amoako slotted the resulting spot kick low to the left to score his 20th goal of the season.

The Bromley faithful started moaning at their team as they tried to patiently play from defence to unlock the visiting defence and a offside flag denied Bromley the equaliser after 67 minutes.

Amoako and Zahana-Oni exchanged passes inside the Whyteleafe penalty area before Zahana-Oni lifted the ball into the far corner of the net but the flag was raised for offside.

Three minutes later another good move from the Ravens saw Danny Smith's 12 yard low shot cleared off the line, in the middle of the goal, by Michael Riley.

Substitute goalkeeper, Mann, made a terrific save after 72 minutes when he dived acrobatically to his right to push Barclay's goalbound shot from outside the penalty area away from the top left hand corner.

They say saves win matches, and had that one went in, Bromley would have lost ground on their top six rivals..

Seven minutes were left on the clock and the visitors should have been reduced to nine men when Kevin George who ran with the ball closely to his feet was fouled by Matt Kember. The older brother, aged 31, of Bromley's Paul, went in late on the Bromley midfielder, but having been booked after 56 minutes survived an early shower.

Trying to waste time at every opportunity, Whyteleafe goalkeeper Lidbury was finally booked by the referee when he lost patience with the goalkeepers timewasting four minutes remaining.

Two minutes later, Luckett played a superb free kick from the left into the penalty area but Amoako's free header was acrobatically pushed over the crossbar by Lidbury.

Bromley's pressure finally paid off with a deserved 90th minute equaliser.

Luckett's corner kick was flapped by Lidbury finding former Cray Wanderers defender, Mark Willy at the far post, Bromley's player of the season, powerfully headed into the right of the net to give Bromley that deserved point.

Two minutes into stoppage time, another patient Bromley build up saw Luckett's cross find Vines and his diving header was pushed over by a diving goalkeeper but Vines was flagged for offside.

Had Willy scored ten minutes earlier, Bromley would have gone onto win the game, and the final whistle blew as Potterill was unmarked inside the penalty area ready to cross for the winning goal but Bromley had to settle for a point.

Bromley: Danny Harwood (Dean Mann 46), Danny Smith, Gary Drewett, John Wilfort, Colin Luckett (Capt), Mark Willy, Mark Hammond (Steve Potterill 46), Kevin George, Paul Vines, Adolph Amoako, Landry Zahana-Oni. Subs: Michael Harney, Wade Falana, Edwin Mante

Whyteleafe: Michael Lidbury, Leigh Douce, Michael Riley, Danny Bower, Mark Dickinson (sent off 51), Bradley Pritchard, Graham Harper, Matt Kember (Capt), Billy Jackson, Dominic Barclay, Chris Dickson. Subs: Ali Reeve, Roy Newman, Scott Simpson

Referee: Mr S Pryor

Assistants: Mr M Manning & Mr M Sage

Attendance: 212

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