metpolice030504

We don't fear Horsham!

BROMLEY joint-manager George Wakeling insists his side have nothing to fear at Horsham on Saturday in the Ryman League Division One play-off final.

After watching his side dispose of a resilient Metropolitan Police side in a tense battle at Hayes Lane, where the game exploded into life during extra time, Wakeling is confident his team will be playing Ryman Premier League football in August.

Bromley drew first blood after 96 minutes of nail biting tension when former Kingstonian star Colin Luckett held his nerve to beat Stuart McKenzie from the spot - despite the goalkeeper diving the right way - after Gary Drewett won the Kent side a hotly disputed penalty.

But former Bromley striker Mark Watson headed a dramatic late leveller with only three minutes left to force a penalty shoot out - which Bromley goalkeeper Andy Walker - expected to scoop at least one player of the year award next Saturday - saved three as Bromley came through triumphant 4-3.

You could feel the tension throughout the game, and it slightly eased when Luckett fired home the first penalty of the game.

Chances were few and far between but Bromley did go close after only 66 seconds but Wade Falana headed Steve Potterill's first time cross wide.

At the other end, Scott Bennetts' was off target from the edge of the box and after cutting inside Luckett, Craig Brown shot past a diving Walker but also past the post.

Falana then went close with a back header following a whipped in cross from Luckett.

McKenzie was almost caught out before the break when he was forced to back peddle to tip over a dipping cross from South African Steve Potterill from the right hand side.

In the other semi-final, Ross Lover gave Cray a 36th minute lead at Horsham but there was nothing separating these two sides at Hayes Lane.

The visitors issued Bromley a warning after only 140 seconds after the re-start when Craig Brown cut the ball back to their unmarked dangerman Kevin Cooper but his 14-yarder clipped the crossbar with Walker well beaten.

Cooper then had another chance to score after 57 minutes but he blazed embarrassingly over when well placed and probably wished the ground would swallow him up for such a glaring miss.

As Horsham equalised in the other game through Jamie Taylor - the striker who scored four in their 5-0 win over Ashford Town on Saturday - after 79 minutes, Bromley couldn't break down a solid and hard working visiting defence.

Cray Wanderers, can be proud of their achievements this season, holding Horsham to a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes but  goals from Lee Carney (93) and Florian Mateos (117) denied a third meeting between Bromley and Cray Wanderers in Saturday's Final for a place in the Ryman Premier League.

Despite the efforts of the Metropolitan Police players to change the assistant's mind for awarding Bromley their penalty, Luckett kept his composure and his left-footed penalty found the net despite McKenzie's efforts to keep the ball out.

You could slightly feel the tension ease as the Bromley faithful celebrated.

McKenzie made a breathtaking save tipping Allan McLeod's 20-yard snap shot over the bar with only eight agonising minutes left.

But when Watson headed home a dramatic looping late leveller, Bromley had Walker, again, to thank for keeping them in the promotion hunt with two saves after Watson's goal and two good stops in the shoot out.

Wakeling, however, couldn't hide his delighted after the final whistle.  "We had to battle," he said.  "I thought we won it with Colin Luckett's penalty.  Disappointed to give that goal away really, I thought we didn't defend very well (for their goal).

"Their manager paid us a compliment and said we're a really good footballing side and the pitch doesn't do us justice.  It's a very hard pitch but with a bit of character we've come through and I'm very proud of the team."

Wakeling is very confident the club can join AFC Wimbledon and Walton & Hersham (and Kent club's Folkestone Invicta and possibly Margate) in the Ryman Premier League next season.

"Of course we are (confident)," he insisted.  "How can I not be confident, we're winning all our games, we haven't lost for weeks so why should I fear Horsham? 

"I tell you something, they'll be worried about us!"

Midfielder Danny Carroll admitted the conditions weren't good to play in.  The former Conference star added: "It was awful, very bobbly, you couldn't get the ball down and pass. 

"Every player will say it wasn't enjoyable to play in because of the conditions and their game plan dictated it."

The Bromley faithful can thank Carroll for Walker saving the first spot kick taken by Kevin Cooper - who was trying to find the bottom right hand corner.

Carroll explained: "I did tell Andy (Walker) where Kevin Cooper puts his penalties because I played with him at Carshalton - so he owes me one there - but he made some magnificent saves.

"He's just a goalkeeper playing top of his game at the moment.  He made a magnificent save late in extra time when they were pushing on after they equalised - he deserves it today but we'll have to do it again.  It counts for nothing if we lose on Saturday."

Unbeaten in ten games, Bromley need to win just one more to clinch promotion back into the Ryman Premier League and they are more than capable of doing it.


Bromley: Andy Walker, Allan McLeod, Colin Luckett, Steve Potterill (Capt), Tutu Henriques, Sam Okafor, Danny Carroll (Kevin George 104), Wade Falana (Fraser Logan 106), Mark Tompkins (Adolph Amoako 71), Adam Locke, Gary Drewett.  Subs: Gavin McGowan, Tom Stradwick

Metropolitan Police: Stuart McKenzie, Simon Gregory (Byron Brown 76), Paul Barrowcliff, Paul Sears, Dave Newman, Jon Daly (Capt), Craig Brown, Ian Batten, Rob Haworth (Mark Watson 103), Kevin Cooper, Scott Bennetts (Michael Parma 103).  Subs: Stuart Harte, Matthew Fox


FOR THE RECORD:

Attendance: 351
Referee: R Forrester
Assistants: R Gilard & P Daly
Fourth Official: P Toyer