WOODMAN HAS HOPE AS RAVENS STEP IT UP
BROMLEY’S lengthy tenmatch winless National League run, stretching back to late January, is over courtesy of this comfortable victory at Eastleigh.
Well-struck goals in each half by midfield pair Billy Bingham and James Vennings secured the Ravens’ a first league win since late January, six defeats in that time having dropped them on to the fringes of the play-off positions.
Prior to that lean run, Bromley, either side of Christmas and the new year, had won eight times in ten outings and were in the thick of the promotion push.
Manager Andy Woodman, with next month’s FA Trophy final against Wrexham to savour, refused to press the panic button and remains quietly optimistic things are on the turn.
He said: “We’re now showing a little bit of our earlier form, not necessarily in results, but the way we’re moving the ball about like we did earlier in the season.
“I take my hat off to the lads who have worked hard. Hopefully, without getting too carried away, we might be finding our way again.”
Bromley could have won by four or five goals against an off-colour Eastleigh who have the bulk of their squad out of contract at the end of the season.
They were distinctly second best and, save a number of sporadic raids, seldom threatened to claw back the deficit.
The visitors bossed the first half and twice went close through Louis Dennis and George Alexander before Billy Bingham fired them in front six minutes before the break.
The midfielder picked up the ball just outside the box and drilled a low left-foot shot into the bottom corner, giving goalkeeper Joe McDonnell no chance.
Eastleigh manager Lee Bradbury switched wide men Sam Smart and Vince Harper, but the danger continued to come from Bromley, with only a superb point-blank save by McDonnell denying Dennis a second soon after the break.
Top scorer Michael Cheek was also denied in a frantic goalmouth scramble, while at the opposite end Ty Barnett and Brett Pitman headed wide.
Bromley eventually doubled their lead ten minutes from time with the hugely influential Vennings drilling a terrific shot into the top left-hand corner for a second goal.
“It’s ironic because I’d been crying out for goals from the middle of the park – we can’t expect Michael Cheek to score all our goals – and two crackers come along in the same game,” Woodman smiled. “Vennings had a great game and complimented it with a great goal. He’s an intelligent young man, wants to get on the ball and gives us a really good dynamic.”
It was Eastleigh’s sixth defeat in seven games, leaving the Spitfires fifth from bottom. ★★★★★