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Thursday 01st September 2005
Saturday 31st July 2004 Pre-Season Friendly Stephen McCartney reports from Bayliss Avenue
Thamesmead Town 1 Michael Power 18 (pen)
Bromley 1 Adolph Amoako 20

BROMLEY manager Stuart McIntyre is in the process of fine tuning his squad, ahead of their Ryman League Division One opener against Horsham at Hayes Lane in two weeks time.

Trialist Mark Roberts has already been released by the Scot, and he admitted two players, who started against Go Travel Kent League championship favourites Thamesmead Town, "haven't really made the standards."

McIntyre used ten substitutes at Bayliss Avenue - and both teams, looking for impressive league campaigns - were given a good work-out in the scorching heat.

McIntyre has been looking at several goalkeepers during pre-season with former Gravesend & Northfleet  Alex O'Reilly, former AFC Wimbledon stopper Matt Martin, youngster Harry Hunter and Andy Walker given an opportunity to impress in between the sticks.

However, McIntyre hasn't ruled out an opportunity for fans favourite, Danny Harwood, who has made 260 appearances for the Hayes Lane outfit, a chance to reclaim the number one jersey.

McIntyre admitted: "Danny is very unfit at the moment, and I understand he did train elsewhere on Thursday night, which has disappointed me.  Danny has been asked to lose some weight and get himself fit, and we will get him involved in games.  That was the plan but that may have taken a little turn."

Replacing O'Reilly at Bayliss Avenue after 49 minutes was Andy Walker, and McIntyre revealed: "I've been talking to him right through the summer.  He has had trials at Bishop's Stortford and played a few games for Heybridge Swifts, but he is a local lad and I've been trying to persuade him to have a look at us. He text me during the week and told me he would have a look.  I have decided to have a look at him - he is a strong keeper, very vocal, and he is giving me an issue."

However, McIntyre will be without left-back Michael Harney (cruciate ligament) for the entire season and midfielder Jason McKoy needs an operation following a medial ligament injury.

McIntyre, however, has been boosted with the news that Landry Zahana-Oni could make a return for Tuesday's clash against Premiership newcomers Crystal Palace, at Hayes Lane (kick off 7.45pm).

And defender Danny Smith, who hasn't been at pre-season training due to work and family commitments "will be involved in the team during the season" revealed McIntyre.

O'Reilly made a comfortable save after only four minutes as Michael Power planted a header straight into the goalkeeper's grasp following Ray Power's cross from the right.

Bromley should have taken the lead two minutes later.  Midfielder Solomon Taywo, who played the tail end of last season for Banstead Athletic, after playing for Millwall, sent Adolph Amoako on his way towards goal, but the former Crystal Palace striker, dragged his shot towards the far post, allowing goalkeeper Steve Northwood to get down low to his right, making a routine save.

Bromley trialist Ed Palmer played the ball to former Hastings United striker Joel Bevis, who played the ball for Scott Bennetts, and the winger, signed from Metropolitan Police, cut in towards goal but fired his shot high over the crossbar.

Thamesmead opened the scoring after 18 minutes when Michael Power, who missed pre-season training due to a knee injury, but is back to full fitness, sent O'Reilly the wrong way from the penalty spot, after he was fouled by Dean Frost inside the penalty area.

Straight after the goal, McIntyre fumed the performance of his team was "absolutely shocking" but his players quickly responded by drawing level two minutes later.

Bevis fed the ball for Amoako, and despite being sandwiched by two Thamesmead defenders, the striker, who scored 25 goals last season, stroked the ball into the right hand side of the net.

Just before the half-hour mark, there were appeals for a second penalty, when Dean Burns sent his header over the crossbar despite being flattened by Frost.

Amoako pinned a shot narrowly wide of the right post before Northwood saved 22-year-old, Tutu Henriques low drive, denying the former Carshalton Athletic player.

Bennetts' fired narrowly over the crossbar after only 29 seconds of the second half, after bringing the ball down under control, following a quick raid from the visitors.

Just before the hour, both sides had chances to take the lead but Power, who ran across the face of the penalty area, saw his shot saved by Walker above his head, from 25 yards and at the other end,  Paul Vines, who raced down the left channel, dragged his shot wide of the far post from ten yards.

Mark Penny's penetrating run down the right saw him sent Curtis Williams' on his way down the right flank.  His cross, however, saw Power nip in front of Walker, at the near post, but shot across the face of goal, and the Ryman Leaguers survived.

Newly appointed Bromley skipper Mark Willy, who is the only Bromley player to have played  90 minutes in all three pre-season friendlies, inspired his side after 76 minutes.

Driving from the back, he exchanged passes with Bobby George down the left hand side, before sending over a cross towards goal.

Although Northwood screamed for the ball, his punch went straight to Vines, but the striker stabbed the ball over from 12 yards.

Bromley's last chance came with seven minutes left on the clock.  Tim Murdoch sent in a corner kick from the right but Mark Watson sent his header over Northwood's crossbar.

McIntyre, however, expects better from his side.  He added: "I felt in the first half we were not prepared to keep the ball.

"We were looking for the long pass and for easy ways to get rid of the ball, not looking to keep possession.

"It was very warm, but in the second half we knocked it around a little bit better, created a whole load of chances.  We are still not clinical enough around the goals but in the heat, its not a bad work-out."

Bromley are expecting a four-figure crowd for Tuesday night's showdown against Premership newcomers Crystal Palace, as the Selhurst Park outfit switch on the newly erected floodlights at Hayes Lane, replacing the original ones that were erected in 1960.

McIntyre said: "I think in an ideal world it would be nice to put on a show, but it depends on the Palace team.

"I think we have enough talent in the team to at least play some good football - as long as its not too warm."

With 21 players featuring at Thamesmead Town - McIntyre is looking to field only 17 players on Tuesday.

He revealed: "I am getting to the point where I will probably only have 16-17 people involved on Tuesday against Palace."

* Admission prices for the Crystal Palace friendly at Hayes Lane on Tuesday are £10 (adults) and £5 (all concessions).  Kick off is at 7.45pm.

After this game, Bromley entertain Erith & Belvedere (Southern League Division One East) on Saturday (3pm) and Beckenham Town (Go Travel Kent League) on Tuesday 10th August, (7.45pm) at Hayes Lane before Horsham are the visitors to Hayes Lane on the opening day of the Ryman League Division One season on Saturday 14th August (3pm)

Thamesmead Town: Steve Northwood, Curtis Williams, Dave Martin, Lee Loveridge, Dean Kearley, Mark Dudley, Ray Power, Pedro Knight, Michael Power, Dean Burns, Sam Thomas.  Subs (from): Mark Penny, James Brown, Gurip Thind

Bromley: Alex O'Reilly (Andy Walker 49), Dean Frost (Gary Drewett 51), Ed Palmer (Tutu Henriques 27), John Myatt (Tim Murdoch 61), Mark Willy (Capt), Danny Arkwright (Paul Kember 83), Anthony Pace (Steve Potterill 35), Solomon Taywo (Chris Hill 73), Joel Bevis (Paul Vines HT), Adolph Amoako (Mark Watson HT), Scott Bennetts (Bobby George 69)  Unused: Harry Hunter (GK)

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