As the National League season heads into March, with only nine games to play, Bromley have slipped to twelfth in the table after a difficult start to 2020.
The Ravens have only picked up a single point in February, to add to the three they amassed in January and going from looking like certainties for the Play Offs to mid table.
Neil Smith’s side had a tough month, which started with a 2-1 loss at Halifax Town before picking up a point at home to Solihull Moors drawing 2-2, coming back from two goals down. From there though came three consecutive losses at Stockport County 1-0 and at home to Wrexham 2-0 and Sutton Utd 1-0.
The problems in attack are clear from the stats, The Ravens have failed to score in their last three matches, despite creating several good chances in the most recent game against Sutton, all the time letting in preventable goals at the other end.
Smith’s reaction following the last game was realistic and honest about the current form and performances from his side. Not interested in excuses about brilliant goalkeeping displays or tales of woe about poor refereeing, he has challenged his squad to step up and prove they can perform at this level by taking their chances and defending solidly.
‘Where did it all go wrong?’ Is an often asked question on the various supporters’ social media platforms, how did a side that was top of the league now find itself half way down the league?
There have been major factors that have seen the club struggle to keep together the side that started so well, injuries and suspensions kicked in and key players became unavailable for long spells.
Keeper Mark Cousins injured his shoulder, which kept him out for four months and centre back Marc Anthony Okoye was forced to retire with a knee injury, while fellow centre back Chris Bush was missing for six games with various suspensions.
These players had been key to the fine start the team had made as was George Porter who has since been banned for a year. Striker Michael Cheek, who was an inspired signing, continued to score goals and lead the line as a lone forward, but his workload has been huge with fellow striker Adrian Clifton having been injured and to date not registered a goal for the club and Cheek’s performances have understandably dipped.
The loss of goal scoring winger Reeco Fairchild-Hackett cannot be underestimated either, the 21 year old joined Portsmouth in early January, leaving a huge gap which hasn’t yet been filled, despite the signings of Andre Coker, Corey Whitely and Aaron Rowe on loan. Other loan signings did prove to have a positive impact, but Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Alfie Doughty and Michael Klass were all re-called by their clubs.
Loaning out Adam Mekki to Ebbsfleet and Coker to Kingstonian has left fans baffled, Mekki has been in good form since moving down the road and Coker was given less than ten minutes on the pitch in total, but still scored once.
Attendances have kept around the 2,000 mark at Hayes Lane for home games, but there was the first significant grumbles of dissent at full time on Saturday. Although Smith has always played down the chances of promotion this season, owner Robin Stanton-Gleeves was very vocal in pre-season about the club’s ambitions and certainly raised the expectations of some supporters who now feel the club is under achieving.
March starts with a trip to high flying Harrogate Town live on TV, then come games against teams in need of points at the other end of the table, at home to Chorley & away at Ebbsfleet Utd, before the month ends with another home game V Aldershot Town.
Despite the poor run the play offs are still within sight if Bromley can re-discover winning ways, but it needs to be sooner rather than later with only two months left of the regular season.