RAVENS READY TO KICKSTART!
WE’RE starting to find our feet again! That is the verdict of Bromley boss Neil Smith after seeing his Ravens side win for the first time since making their long-awaited return to action.
A Jack Bridge goal in the first half and Michael Cheek in the second came against the run of play but were enough for Bromley to return to winning ways against a gallant Aldershot in front of the BT Sport cameras.
“Today was about starting from the back and getting a clean sheet, we had to get back to making ourselves a strong unit to break down and I felt we did that today. boss Smith said.
“We had to deal with a lot of their set pieces in the swirling conditions but we stood up to it and we always knew as long as we stayed solid, we would get another chance to make the game safe.”
It was Aldershot who made all the running in the first half and twice threatened in the early exchanges. Mark Cousins had to be alert to save Harry Panayiotou’s header and Joel Nouble’s back-heel effort.
Danny Searle’s men went even closer when Byron Webster deflected a free-kick onto the post with Cousins left stranded.
However, it was Bromley who took the lead with their first genuine opportunity of the game. Charlie Wakefield fed his fellow winger Bridge who cut inside his man before burying an effort into the far corner of the net.
With a goal to protect Bromley were happy to soak up the pressure in the second 45 and largely restricted Aldershot to efforts from distance. From one such strike, substitute Ricky Miller forced Cousins into a parried save with Nouble seeing his follow up effort deflected wide.
However, just as in the first half Bromley struck once more with their first effort of the half. Frankie Raymond teed up Billy Bingham to hit one from 25 yards out and Cheek was alert to help it beyond an unsighted Brad James to seal the win.
Aldershot pressed for a way back into the game but other than a late Chike Kandi effort well blocked by Cousins they could find no way through a resolute Bromley defence.
Searle took no solace in a performance that saw his side dominate for long periods for no reward.
He said: “Yes we were the dominant side but we were weaker where it mattered, in both penalty areas. Bromley had two shots on goal and scored from both of them.
“As good as we looked you cant dominate for so long, fail to score and then expect to come away with points.”
STAR MAN: