NEIL-Y MEN NO LONGER
League new boys stunned as Ravens go second
BROMLEY manager Neil Smith purred with delight as his unbeaten side roared to second in the table after victory over a Hartlepool side still looking their first win in Non-League football.
The Ravens followed up their 6-1 demolition over Leyton Orient on Tuesday night with another polished display here, capped by goals either side of the break by Josh Rees and Luke Wanadio.
And Smith couldn’t hide his delight afterwards, beaming: “We created several chances and in the end we fully deserved the win.
“It was a tough game and one where we didn’t start well and had to roll up our sleeves to stay in the game in the opening half-hour.
“Give credit to Hartlepool, they changed their system and prevented us getting the ball down and playing. However, in the second half we played to our strengths and managed to hit Hartlepool on the counter attack.”
It was a very different story for Pools boss Craig Harrison, whose side have taken two points from their opening five matches and lie firmly rooted in the relegation zone.
“We started the game well and were in complete control but we have got to learn to score when we are on top,” he said.
“Bromley scored with their first effort after getting into our box and that isn’t good enough.We can’t continue to chase games and we have to address this.”
Indeed, Hartlepool dominated possession in the first half but were unable to turn the possession into clear-cut opportunities.
And they were duly punished on 36 minutes when a one-two between Rees and Louis Dennis led to the former poking the ball home past a stranded Scott Loach.
Hartlepool should have twice equalised after the break. First, Conor Newton volleyed a Jonathan Franks cross wide when it seemed easier to hit the target, then Derek Adams’ driving run ended with a rasping effort that flashed inches wide.
Both Rees and Adam Mekki missed chances to double the lead as Bromley turned the screw, but that job was eventually down to Wanadio, who struck 13 minutes after the restart.
Mekki’s fierce shot from 18 yards out was parried by former England Under-21 goalkeeper Loach into the path of Rees, whose follow-up shot was blocked only as far as Wanadio, who hit a wonderful half-volley into the top corner of the net.
Bromley continued to create chances in search of a third goal but the closest they came was a curling effort from Wanadio that crashed against the post.