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Mission accomplished!

DANNY CARROLL insists Bromley can get rid of their "sleeping giant" tag after they secured promotion into the Ryman Premier League with a comfortable 3-1 win at Horsham.

The 28-year-old star midfielder, who rejoined the Hayes Lane outfit in December, following George Wakeling's return, was overwhelmed with pride at the final whistle.

Carroll made an impact during his first spell at the club as a youngster before taking in  Dulwich Hamlet, Crawley Town, Farnborough Town and Stevenage Borough before coming back home from Carshalton Athletic at the end of December.

"It could be a massive club, this club," he said.  "We've always said it, when I was here eight years ago and we're heading in the right direction."

Carroll, who was lured back to Hayes Lane by manager Wakeling, wasn't expecting to celebrate promotion this season - but next.

"We came back and it was kind of can we do it scenario not we will do it.  We always thought we'll give it a good crack to see if we could get into the play-offs and if we couldn't never mind, we'll build for next year and go for it next year."

However, no-one at the club could envisage promotion when they lost 1-0 at Croydon Athletic on 5th March.    But they won their next six games (keeping clean sheets in five of them) before drawing Metropolitan Police 1-1. Wins over Dulwich Hamlet and Banstead Athletic at the end of the season secured their place in the play-offs.

Bromley had goalkeeper Andy Walker to thank, saving two penalties as Bromley made it through to the play-off final, beating Metropolitan Police 4-3 on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw after extra time on Tuesday night.

Carroll added: "We then went on this little run and it became more and more realistic and it was a case of - the old cliché - taking each game as it comes - but we literally had to just win one game at a time and all of a sudden we're in the semi-finals against Met Police.

"We've rode our luck, didn't play well but went through on penalties but today I though we were magnificent."

When did the midfielder feel the team had a chance for promotion? "I think Whyteleafe away for me (Good Friday, 27th March).  We went there, destroyed them and killed off their chances and for me, the team never looked back."

And back to the play-off final.  Bromley tested Horsham goalkeeper Luke Burton after only eight minutes when he dived to his right to beat out Allan McLeod's shot.

Six minutes later Lee Carney swept in a free kick towards the far post and Walker blocked Gary Charman's header.

But Bromley had Walker to thank again when he saved a 21st minute penalty.  Horsham striker Jamie Turner turned Tutu Henriques inside the box and was brought down by the former Carshalton Athletic reserve team player - scorer of the winning penalty on Tuesday night - and referee Mike Bull pointed to the penalty spot to the delight of the Hornets' faithful in the crowd of 1117.

However, their joy was short lived - they should have known Carney was facing the best goalkeeper in the division - Andy Walker - 21 clean sheets to his name this season - and the goalkeeper dived to his right to beat out the penalty kick to the delight of the vocal, passionate travelling supporters.

Carroll praised the goalkeeper, and added: "Great penalty save and that was justice because it was totally against the run of play.

"Andy is a great goalkeeper and proved it again today."

Bromley, however, were soon celebrating their first step into the Ryman Premier League, taking the lead in the 26th minute.

Carroll himself played a pass to Mark Tompkins, who beat the offside trap, inside the Horsham penalty area.  The experienced striker - who could be playing his last game for the club - squared the ball to an unmarked Wade Falana and from four yards found the roof of the net with Burton no where to be seen.

But Horsham were level after 43 minutes following a well rehearsed free kick routine.  Everybody thought Carney was going to shoot from distance, but he had two team-mates closer to the ball and one of them played the ball into the box instead and Jamie Taylor scored his 31st goal of the season firing past Walker from 12 yards.

Bromley, however, were level within seconds when McLeod - out on the left - hit a cross-cum-shot that sailed over Burton and into the top far corner of the net.  The former Arsenal trainee must have been about 30-yards from goal.

Tompkins, turned back the years during the game and along with Falana tore the Horsham defence to shreds and Tompkins, who joined Bromley after they beat his Whyteleafe side 3-0 on Good Friday - has scored six goals in the club's final eight games of the campaign - and the striker almost found the net after 51 minutes.

Steve Potterill's throw was flicked on by Falana and Tompkins' 16-yard shot bounced off the top of the crossbar.

A minute later, at the other end, Charman headed Carney's flag kick over.

Tompkins, however, found his name in the referee's notepad when he slotted home, after being offside and after the whistle had sounded.

Falana wasn't very happy when he made way for substitute Adolph Amoako after 67 minutes but he was delighted at the end.

Bromley wrapped up their deserved victory with 13 minutes left with a stunning free kick from former Kingstonian star Colin Luckett.

He must have been some 35-yards out when his left-footed free kick floated over Burton and into the top left hand corner of the net.

Horsham were now well beaten and had no answer to Bromley's play - in fact their promotion chances went for a Burton!

"A fantastic day for the club, brilliant support, we've out supported them at their place and they were, and knew, they were well beaten," beamed Carroll.  "I've got good friends in their team - they knew it wasn't their day!"

Although proud for his team, George Wakeling, Bromley's joint manager, felt sad for Horsham - a club he's played for.

"Well, we're over the moon.  We came here with confidence, on a tremendous run.  We felt very good on the day and played very well," he said as his team, that finished fourth, and with 75 points beat third placed Horsham, who finished their 42 game campaign on 78.

"Can you believe 40 years ago I signed for this team (Horsham) and I had six great years here.  They are a great club, a great town.

"To come down here and put it over on them, I'm a little bit sad about them not making it but there's a job to be done, I'm the manager of Bromley and that's how it is."

Bromley's season has come full circle.  Under former boss Stuart McIntyre they began with a 4-1 win over Horsham at Hayes Lane - Wakeling's first game back was their 4-0 win at Queen Street on the 11th December and their last......

"My first game (back) was against Horsham and they were in  the top three and we came down here and won 4-0," reflected Wakeling.  "I think they've improved since then and we certainly have, it's coincidental what's happened.  Coming back in December, playing away to Horsham and the last game we're here to decide who goes up and thankfully it's us."

Within moments of the final whistle, the Chislehurst based manager ran up the steps of the old wooden main stand to plant a kiss on his proud wife.  He feels Bromley can be a side to be reckoned with in the Ryman Premier - after rotting for six years in division one.

"I'm a Bromley boy, I've lived there for 20 odd years so it's going to be a great feeling over the coming weeks and hopefully we can get a side together to grace the Premier Division."

Full circle? Back in Wakeling's first season in 1990-91, he helped Bromley finish as runners-up to Chesham United in the first division.  He had 42 games to do it then, but this season he has achieved promotion - albeit via the play-off's  - in 26 outings.


Horsham: Luke Burton, Carlo Castrechino (Wez Lopez 77), Ian Payne (Capt), Andy Walker (Eddie French 11), Tom Graves, Mark Hawthorne, Lee Carney, John Westcott, Jamie Taylor, Ryan Rummery (Florian Mateos 67), Gary Charman.  Subs: Mark Fox, Joe Clark

Bromley: Andy Walker, Allan McLeod (Kevin George 63), Colin Luckett, Steve Potterill (Capt), Tutu Henriques, Sam Okafor, Danny Carroll, Wade Falana (Adolph Amoako 67), Mark Tompkins, Adam Locke (Gavin McGowan 46), Gary Drewett.  Sub: Tom Stradwick

Attendance: 1117
Referee: Mike Bull
Assistants: Will Davis & Bruce Waymark
Fourth Official: David Hillier