Andy Woodman has praised Ben Thompson for an “pheromonal” hat-trick as Bromley won 4-1 at Gillingham.
Thompson’s first-half brace plus Corey Whitely’s finish put Bromley 3-1 up at half-time before Thompson sealed his hat-trick and the win in the 48th minute, which kept the Ravens six points clear at the League Two summit as Cambridge became their nearest challengers in second position.
Woodman post-match was full of praise for Thompson’s performance after the midfielder had struggled through injury in recent months, but noted other players for their roles within the whole performance as he spoke to the club’s YouTube channel.
“I think you say that about Ben but you can say that about all the squad as got Carl Jenkinson in there who was not even in the squad, but he revved the lads up before the game and I think that tells me everything about the group, skippers, everyone.
“Jude [Arthurs] comes out of the team, someone else goes in and they kind of get it. They never happy as they want to be playing and I get that but they get that it’s for the good of the team and I have to make the decisions, and I say at the time that they are only good decisions when we win and if we don’t win then I got it wrong and they’re a good group.
“I like everything that they’re about and they’ve just got to keep playing on through as I remind everybody.
“We haven’t achieved anything yet, just got another result and we’re another result closer to where we want to get to.”
Bromley now are yet to taste an EFL defeat in the Kent derby against Gillingham after having extended their unbeaten record to three wins and one draw, with Woodman chuffed at the display.
“Fantastic performance! I thought it was a really really good performance all round. Not just the result but the way we started the game, the way we had done our homework.
“We knew where to exploit them and the quality of the finishing from a team that only scores from set plays so everyone tells me that we are, that’s one individual performance as we were brilliant today.”
“All over the pitch then the flip side of that the defensive stuff we have to do because we still had to defend. It’s not quite 4-1 until you’re home and dry. You have to thank the defenders who put their bodies on the line, Grant Smith made some big saves when it was needed.
“So overall, I thought it was a real Bromley masterclass if that makes sense. We’ve done a real job on Gillingham.”
Three of their goals came in the opening 27 minutes with Woodman pleased with Thompson’s third goal but paid tribute to the staff for their work in dealing with injuries to Omar Sowunmi and Kyle Cameron, whilst Zech Medley and Jesse Debrah were signed on loan.
“The quality of the finishing was brilliant. Ben Thompson was pheromonal today. The way he finished off his hat-trick was a superb goal. All round what we’ve done and I’ve got to give the staff a pat on the back as well you know. We’ve had a tricky week this week with some injuries, players coming in for medicals and my coaching team doing a lot of work.
“We’ve had a lot of hours ready for this game to make sure that we knew how we wanted to hurt them and I think they’re a credit as well as the employees because we as a team have done a really good job.”
Cameron and Sowunmi were absent due to their injuries which left Woodman with no choice other than to start Medley and Debrah who had done just one training session with the group, which saw the 54-year-old manager admit that he took a big gamble in his selection.
“It’s a big risk chucking two boys in like that that had never played together never mind with this group. I know both of those boys really well.
“Their characters, I’ve worked with them both and I just felt that it’s a risk that I’ve got to take and a risk I think that’s going to catapult us so both lads were really good.”
Whitely also drew praise from Woodman after his second strike in two games put them 3-0 up in the 27th minute, with the manager pleased to see players stepping up to chip in with goals which he believes is key to their promotion push.
” Absolutely yeah, good goal and should of had a second one as well but that’s just me. We need everyone chipping in for goals and Mitch [Pinnock] due one at some point surely I keep ribbing him.
“We need everyone to chip in with goals because that’s ultimately going to get us right to the top of the table and get us to where we want to get to and I am going to keep reminding these boys.
“You would of thought we had lost as there was no music on, no wild celebrations, no disrespect as well I’m really big on that. Don’t start banging on the walls and being disrespectful. We’re a humble group and when we get to where we want to get to then we can start having the party and we’re a long way from that yet.”
1,313 Bromley supporters were in attendance at Priestfield Stadium and Woodman was pleased to see the huge turnout for the trip, as the club continues to grow its fanbase.
“Fantastic, fantastic. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than seeing the support, the fanbase growing, people coming out and their smiley faces and proud to be a Bromley fan.”
Bromley now face an away trip at Fleetwood on Saturday 7 February and Woodman is now keen to continue their 11-match unbeaten run, knowing that they need to keep grinding out points.
“Yeah that’s a really tough one. We got to make sure we keep getting points. Keep getting results and that’s really important.”