Bromley manager Andy Woodman was impressed at his team’s 3-1 comeback against Crawley in “tricky” conditions.
Second-half goals from Idris Odutayo and Michael Cheek saw Bromley come from behind to claim victory at the Copperjax Stadium and move up to fourth in League Two.
Ryan Loft had nodded Crawley into a ninth-minute lead from Harry McKirdy’s cross after the latter intercepted a loose backpass from Jude Arthurs, but Omar Sowunmi equalised with a 43rd-minute header from Mitch Pinnock’s corner.
Woodman post-match admitted that he was “infuriated” by the Ravens’ timid first-half performance in tricky conditions as they had to play into the winds towards The Glyn Beverly Stand, which gave Crawley the advantage of playing towards the North Terrace.
“I thought it was uh first half the wind, the conditions were tricky. We were into the wind. We didn’t play very well. Um I think it was 39 minutes before we made a tackle which infuriated me a little bit. And then we gifted them a goal. You know the goal we gifted them was a calamity of errors.
“Um but you know I think it was important then that we sort of dug in and got through to half time which we did and we had a good little spell just before half time and then we scored. Um but we kind of needed to get to half time I felt just so we could regroup and just have a little chat at half time which we did.”
Woodman subsequently was impressed by how the team responded in the second half to their half-time conversations as he praised their fitness levels and identity.
“We addressed a few things, made a few things clear um and second half I think that was us. And I think the big thing for me is we look so much fitter than everyone else.
“We’re such a fit team and such a strong team. And that sort of really shone through right in the sort of like 92nd minute when they’re still playing out from the back and I’ve got my two midfielders running 60 yards to shut them down, you know, as they’re playing out from the back.”
The victory lifted Bromley up to fourth and one point off league leaders, Walsall, who are in action tonight (10 December), with Woodman delighted that his team is still focused but he praised Crawley for how they troubled his players throughout the game.
“So um I’m immensely chuffed for the boys but you know, we’re still on a path and um we mustn’t get carried away yet. And credit to Crawley you know they’re no easy team to play against.
“You know they can pass the ball, move the ball, they can hurt you. And um if we kind of hadn’t really of been disciplined and really on it, the way we pressed, we could of got hurt tonight.
“And to go a goal down that was tricky after that. If they had got a second one, it could have been a different game. But you know thankfully we dug in.”
Sowunmi’s equaliser came amidst a series of late first-half set pieces for Bromley which Woodman felt was ideal for giving them some belief at half time, before they proceeded to dominate the second half and again putting critics in the shade.
“Yeah I mean it’s massive isn’t it? You know there’s always a good time to score, but right before half time before you get back in just going one always kind of deflates the opposition a little bit and puts you on the front foot a little bit.
“Um we look a threat don’t we? I mean look we look a powerful team. We look a threat every time the ball goes in the box. We’re good at what we’re good at and we got to make sure we stick to that and don’t go away from that. That’s important.
“Um and I think second half we showed what we’re about and I quite like the narrative of everyone keep thinking we’re just this long ball team. It’s quite nice. I quite like that because we’re a bit more than that.
“But let keep everyone thinking that’s just all we are.”
The start of the second half saw Cheek (affectionately nicknamed Cheeky by Woodman) put two shots wide before Odutayo fired them in front, but Woodman was pleased with their ability to carve out chances and especially from Corey Whitely.
“Yeah I mean it was key. We had some good chances. I mean Cheeky had two or three chances, you know, second half. We had a couple of really good chances first half, you know. Corey had one. Cheeky had one.
“We were creating chances and that’s good. And you know we’re not going to put them all away but the fact that the team is creating chances, all the time and we’re scoring, it’s a good sign.
“Um yeah things are things are good for us at the moment.”
Cheek’s ninth league goal of the season came from a spell of intense pressure which forced a mistake from Crawley, which allowed Whitely to pounce and set up the forward to settle the contest with Bromley’s third goal,
“Yeah I mean it’s what we’re about you know. Um we work on that. We make sure we set it up right. Um when teams want to play out from their box, it’s music to my ears.
“I love it you know and and long may they all doing it, you know, they want to play this Man City way and credit to them you know, if it works for them brilliant, but that kind of works for us as well.”
Bromley will next face Crawley away at Broadfield Stadium on Monday 29 December (7:45pm GMT), but Woodman was keen to reiterate that Scott Lindsay’s Red Devils can’t be underestimated despite sitting one point above the relegation zone in 21st position.
“They’re a good team. You know, let’s not underestimate. They’ve got good players. Um and their results haven’t really mirrored where they are in the league in my opinion.
“You know they’re better than that. Um but tonight I thought we took care of them second half really well.”
Woodman’s Ravens now first face their final pre-Xmas away trip at Accrington Stanley on 13 December (3pm GMT), with club supporters wearing festive fancy dress to raise money for The Salvation Army in a fan-led initiative.
Woodman however is wary of Accrington who are currently on a six-match unbeaten league run, but iterated that his team just need to focus on their game and ensuring that the fans’ festive dress-up has a happy ending.
“Yeah, Accrington is going to be a tough place to go. They’re on a good little run of form at the moment, so that’s going to be a tough game for us. There’s no easy games, So we got to make sure we just keep taking care of what we’re about and make sure we send Santa Claus, the elves, and everyone else, the reindeers all back home happy.”
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