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Much-fancied Long Lane end Bromley's winning streak

Defender Ryan next player to come off Bromley's production line

Long Lane U18  4-2  Bromley U18
M.U.S.H. Kent Youth League Under 18 Northern Division
Good Friday, 9 April 2004
by Stephen McCartney

ALL GOOD things have to come to an end, and this was the case for Bromley's under eighteen team on Good Friday morning.

However, it was a good Friday for much-fancied Long Lane, as they brought Bromley's recent run of three straight wins to an end with a 4-2 victory.

Bromley manager, Derek Parnham's ever-improving side had gone into this difficult game with wins over Dulwich Hamlet (4-0), Ten Em Bee (2-0) and thrashed Erith & Belvedere 6-1 last Sunday.

But Parnham issued a warning to his team after they clocked up twelve goals in their last three games, that the Long Lane game will be difficult, and so it proved.

After the defeat he said: "Long Lane, will go on and become champions of the Kent Youth League Under 18 Northern Division."

Parnham gave a debut to Ben Ryan, and he slotted in as centre back alongside Jamie Leggett.  Two team-mates from the under sixteen side, Joe Kinchin and Harry Downer joined Ryan in the squad, and substitute Kinchin replaced Michael Sibley.

Ricky Hill and Danny Cossington were both away and Parnham was still without goalkeeper Dean Cairns (bruised foot) and defender Elliot Payne (ankle) will miss the rest of the season.

The latest prodigy groomed by Parnham is eighteen year old, central defender Chris Hill.  The Mottingham based defender joined Bromley from Thamesmead Town after he fell out with his manager.

Thamesmead's loss is Bromley's gain, as after picking up the youth team captaincy, which has improved his game, the level-headed player has played twelve minutes, twice coming on as substitute, in Bromley first team matches in the Ryman League.

Parnham said: "The more games in the first team Chris Hill plays, the more confident and more commanding he will become."

Long Lane took a twelve minute lead, and it took Bromley only two minutes to equalise.  A long range shot from central midfielder Joe Bell crashed off the crossbar and dropped for prolific striker Andrew Alphonso-Dalhouse who followed up to coolly finish from an acute angle.

Long Lane increased their lead scoring two goals in as many minutes before Alphonso-Dalhouse pulled a goal back for Bromley two minutes before half time.  He latched onto a long pass from midfield before looking up and cleverly lofted the ball over the advancing goalkeeper.

Had the striker kept his composure five minutes after the break when facing a one-on-one with Long Lane's goalkeeper, Bromley would have equalised.  However, the striker's shot went the wrong side of the post and Long Lane captalised scoring their fourth goal twenty-five minutes from time.

Speaking after the game, the Dagenham based manager, said: "Defeat had to come sooner or later, and it was to Long Lane.  Disappointed that we lost 4-2, as I feel the four goals we did conceed were errors on our part and Long Lane didn't have to work hard for their goals.

"A couple of players had off days today," expressed Parnham.  He added: "This didn't help our cause but it's something to be expected, even at the top level of football.  It's impossible for players to perform week in, week out, this time of year.  It's all about players ticking over because players aren't as fresh now as they were at the beginning of the season.  It's just a matter of keeping them as sharp as you can."

Once again, Parnham was pleased with a player who was taken off the Bromley production line from under sixteen level to under eighteen.

He added:  "We gave a debut to Ben Ryan in defence, and once again, did very well coming from the under sixteen's.  For the players I have introduced into the under eighteens it's given the players confidence and gives them an insight to what will happen next season.

Meanwhile, Bromley's under fifteen's beat Erith & Belvedere by two goals to one.

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

Easter Monday
Under 15  -  Away  -  Milton Athletic

Bromley: Kunle Lanal, Peter Wilcox, Ben Ryan, Jamie Leggett, Michael Sibley (Joe Kinchin), Alan Owens, James Falaise (Ugur Ozdemir), Chris Hill, Joe Bell, Jack Hicks, Andrew Alphonso-Dalhouse.  Subs: Sul Meer, Harry Downer


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