FC Halifax Town 1-1 Bromley
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
My rule of thumb is that I don’t do reviews of the Bromley games I stream.
However, as we enter the business end of the season, it almost seemed negligent to not reflect on the 1-1 draw at FC Halifax Town on Tuesday night.
Three points were the target but avoiding defeat was even more important. In the end, Southend’s defeat at Oldham meant that it was another solid point gained.
The Ravens head into the penultimate game of the season on a seven-game unbeaten streak. Barring an unlikely capitulation from Boreham Wood, who have a game in hand, it looks like a straight shoot-out between Bromley and Eastleigh for the final play-off place. Who dares call it from here?
As ever, I reflect on The Good, The Bad and The Ugly from Bromley’s 1-1 draw away at Halifax Town.
Have a read and let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
The Line-up vs FC Halifax Town
The Good
When Michael Cheek was struggling for goals in the first half of the season I kept faith that he would eventually come good. With his impressive National League goal-scoring record, it was very unlikely that his drought would last all season.
It felt like only a matter of time before he came good, and when he signed a new contract in January 2023 it seemed to unleash a new-found freedom in his play. With 10 goals in his last 15 starts, the proof is in the pudding.
Bromley’s fortunes in the last three years have largely hinged on Cheek’s goals, so it’s no surprise that the Ravens’ late run into the play-offs has coincided with his re-emergence. Michael is as close to a certified goal scorer that a club like Bromley can afford, and once again he has repaid the club for the faith they’ve shown in him.
If Bromley get the points they need in the remaining two games, you can bet your bottom dollar that Cheek will play a key role in some way.
Is relying on luck a good thing? Bromley certainly got their fair share of it at Halifax. Bromley weren’t at the races in the first half but really came to life in the second, as noted by Andy Woodman in his post-match interview.
However, despite the Ravens’ revival, I counted two opportunities where Halifax could have either doubled or retaken the lead. A proper connection on the ball would have left Reice Charles-Cook helpless on both occasions.
No one said the playoff run was going to be straightforward. Good teams and good runs require a little luck at the right time. Bromley got that at Halifax and they’ll no doubt hope it continues at home to Chesterfield and away to Oldham Athletic.
Away from The Shay, Bromley received even more good fortune courtesy of the result at Boundary Park.
Southend United had been on an impressive run, collecting 10 points from the last 12 available. A win on Tuesday night, coupled with Bromley’s draw, would’ve moved the Shrimpers to within a point of the Ravens. They would’ve had two very winnable games ahead of them, too. Alas, they fell to defeat in Oldham.
It’s one thing to have to outlast Eastleigh, but to ward off two in-form teams may well have been a task beyond this Bromley team. However, Southend United are now four points behind the Ravens. While this doesn’t rule them out mathematically, they may be starting to think that next season represents their best opportunity for a play-off or automatic promotion push.
The Bad
Bromley started the game with a midfield three of Bingham, Stirk, and Arthurs. This made perfect sense if the game plan was to outwork the opposition and control the tempo of the game in the middle of the park. Alas, it didn’t pan out like that.
National League bread and butter is winning your individual duels, particularly in midfield. It felt like Bromley played a yard off the Halifax defence and midfield, allowing their ball-players to exploit the space behind Harry Forster and Corey Whitely at wing-back.
Angelo Cappello and Adam Senior had a lot of joy running onto diagonal balls. If the pair had a bit more composure in the penalty area, Bromley probably wouldn’t have left The Shay with a point.
As mentioned, Bromley played much better in the second half and made life much more uncomfortable for the Halifax midfield. This reiterates where Bromley’s recruitment focus should be in the summer.
We won't hold on to Ryan Stirk. An EFL club will almost certainly pick him up if Birmingham let him go in the summer. In his absence, I think Bromley will need two additions in the centre of the park: a destroyer and a goal-scoring creator. Where do we find them from with our budget? Andy Woodman better work his loan market magic.
Bromley have only lost 11 of their 44 league matches so far this season, but there have been more than a few games where an extra 1% somewhere would have made a play-off place more secure. I contend this 1% is in the midfield.
The Ugly
This one is aimed at the fans who might move the goalposts if Bromley feature in the postseason.
A lot of supporters seem to have taken a perverse delight in moaning about Bromley on social media this season. Yes, social media is social media, best taken with a pinch of salt, but I’ve collected the receipts. The fans who’ve continually implied that Woodman doesn’t know what he’s doing and that Bromley are having a dreadful season must be feeling more than a little conflicted at the moment.
Don’t get it twisted, I’m not here to advocate that Andy Woodman is a tactical genius and the best gaffer in the National League. But, throughout, I’ve been one of the very few arguing that it’s best to trust the process. Check the archives, my receipts are all there.
Sneaking into the play-offs, or being there or thereabouts, was always a likely destination for Bromley this season. Observing how Woodman sets up his side, along with the quality he’s added and the way the Ravens play under his tutelage, top-eight was always a reasonable prediction.
I wrote my predictions for Bromley’s season before a ball had been kicked. Now, as we enter the final two games, it would appear we are on course to match my prediction, give or take a position or two.
Here’s the thing. If Bromley make the play-offs, I don’t want to see people suddenly declaring that promotion is the minimum expectation. I especially don’t want to see it from people who’ve been intimating that this season was doomed to failure.
No matter who you are, promotion is the name of the game if you reach the postseason. Realistically though, for clubs that finish 6th or 7th, it is almost impossible to negotiate two away games and a Wembley final to gain promotion. Much less to do it against huge odds-on favourites like Notts County or Chesterfield.
Hang on, Machel, didn’t Grimsby Town do precisely that last season? Yes, the Mariners came 6th before netting improbable last-minute winners against Notts County in the eliminator, Wrexham in the semis, then Solihull a.e.t at Wembley. That run was unprecedented, but it was also achieved by a former EFL club with a big budget and a deep squad.
Bromley don’t have that luxury. Frankly, if they achieve a playoff spot, it will be a serious achievement in itself. Any success that comes afterwards is a bonus.
Get at me in the comments below.
Match ratings
Reice Charles-Cook (8)
Harry Forter (6)
Callum Reynolds (6)
Omar Sowunmi (7)
Besart Topalloj (7)
Corey Whitely (6)
Ryan Stirk (7)
Billy Bingham (6)
Jude Arthurs (6)
Michael Cheek (8)
Louis Dennis (6)
Subs:
Charley Kendall for Jude Arthurs 61’ (6)
Thanks for taking the time to read my match synopsis above.
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Hope you enjoyed your holiday Machel. I thought it was one of those games despite not playing our best we battled right to the end. Probably a fair result we could have nicked it but we could have definitely conceded more in the first half. Difficult opposition and a difficult pitch. 4 points will do from the last 2 games. Should be a cracker today.! The team spirit is fantastic all credit to the management.
A very fair reflection of matches each week. The social media negative posts are by people who do not understand the game in depth, they certainly do not travel to away matches like the hard core of us who do. Keep up the good work.