Bromley manager, Andy Woodman is “quite chuffed” with the club’s current position at the top of League Two, following a home win against Newport County.
Courtney Baker-Richardson’s own-goal plus Nicke Kabamba’s finish saw Bromley edge past Newport to stay top of League Two in a 2-1 win at the Copperjax Community Stadium, despite Nathan Opoku’s late consolatory strike for the Exiles.
Woodman though in his post-match interview on Bromley’s YouTube channel was impressed with how Newport tested his team, but felt that the game was naturally “flat” due to the turnaround in fixtures during the festive period, although he felt that his Ravens improved after half time.
“I thought it was a tough game. I thought credit to them, They came and slowed the tempo down and kept the ball quite well. Um, and really, you know, we couldn’t get to grips with it too too much in the first half.
“You know, this game’s always a tricky game. I always find over the Christmas period because I always feel it’s a flat game. It’s a quick succession of turnaround of games and I feel that it’s hard to keep that momentum, that tempo up how we play.
“Um, second half was much better. I thought we were really uh you know pressed on to them a lot more. The goal was an excellent goal. You know that I keep hearing about we’re only a set piece team. Have a look at that goal. That was a brilliant move. A lot of passing and a great finish in the end.”
Baker-Richardson’s own-goal in the third minute of first-half injury time put Bromley ahead but Woodman feels that the goal was crucial in terms of how the second half unfolded, as Newport left space to be capitalised upon in their attempt to get back level.
“Absolutely. You know we they would have probably gone in nil-nil, absolutely buzzing for us to get that goal then means second half they have got to come out a little bit at us and can’t sit back on it so much. So then that creates a little bit more space for us and suits us a little bit better.
“Um so that was a really important goal for us. Um, I’m disappointed we didn’t keep a clean sheet, I have to be honest. You know, that’s what I pride myself on and that’s the mantra of us. We caused ourselves a little three or four minutes of nerviness.
“Um, but look, onto the next one. Great result for the guys. A tricky game and credit to Newport you know, they were very good I thought.”
Woodman however was forced into a half-time change after striker, Michael Cheek suffered an unspecified injury, which Woodman admitted was a concern as he warned fans that their main forward could be sidelined for a few weeks depending on medical analysis.
“He’s struggling actually to be honest. Um, yeah he could be out for a little. I’m going to wait and see as I don’t want to say too much. We got hold of him next, but yeah, it’s bit of a shame. That’s probably hurt us a little bit, but we’ll have to, you know, just wait and see how he is.
Kabamba consequently came on and managed to net Bromley’s second goal from a pass by fellow substitute, Will Hondermarck, with Woodman putting the goal down to his squad utilisation and the players’ ability to make an impact when brought on as substitutes.
“Yeah look, we have to utilize everybody. I don’t look at any of these players that are sort of making up the squad or their subs. They’re all first-team players, every single one of them. And if I can bring those three players on, you know, to freshen up the team, then that’s brilliant for us.
“And um credit to those guys. They’ve come on and they’ve got us across the line the same as they did at Crawley, you know, and we’ve had to rotate the team, and we will have to rotate the team again for Oldham because you just can’t keep turning out that level of performance and that level of mileage and high energy that we are um you know this close in succession.”
Opoku’s consolatory effort meant a nervy end to the match but Woodman was pleased with the defensive display to cling on to the win.
“Yeah, it’s always makes it a bit tricky when you concede a goal like that and there’s three or four minutes left and you know we go again you know they’re going to chuck the balls into the box but we defended it quite well. We were quite solid.
“Um, and you know, I’d have much sooner it been a clean sheet and a bit more relaxed, but we’ve got across the line and it’s and that’s the important thing. The three points the most important thing.”
The match saw Bromley achieve their highest attendance as an EFL club with 4,946 spectators at the stadium, which left Woodman pleased with the growing numbers and keen to “bang” the ground out with higher attendances.
“Yeah, great to see the numbers turn out and I hope they keep coming, you know, got Oldham next game. They will bring a few down for sure, Um, and we want to bang this place out and we want to keep, you know, keep this support growing and these people going home, wanting to come back again. So yeah, really, really chuffed the crowd we had here today.”
With Bromley sat top of the table and three of the last four teams sat at the summit of League Two on New Year’s Day having secured promotion as champions, Woodman refused to get drawn on what the new calendar year holds as he explained that every day is just normal at the club.
“Absolutely. Look every every year and every every season and every month and every week and every day is a big year for me at this football club. Um and I’ll treat this no differently. You know, we’ve got a long way to go, but we’re on the right path and we’re actually, you know, let’s be honest, we’re quite chuffed where we’re sitting at the moment.
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