Andy Woodman feels that Bromley grinded out a “tough tough” win over Colchester to set a new club-record 21-match unbeaten run.
Nicke Kabamba smashed in a 73rd-minute winner to secure Bromley’s new club record of 21 matches unbeaten with victory over Colchester, which left them five points clear at the League Two summit after MK Dons lost 3-1 at home to Barnet.
Woodman post-match described the match as a challenge in his interview with the club’s YouTube channel as he felt that they struggled in the opening 20 minutes, before they found their feet as Ashley Charles hit the bar.
“It was a tough tough game, wasn’t it? I mean, first 20 minutes we were struggling a little bit and I’ve got to say credit to their coach, they caused a few problems in that period and we caused our own problems as well.
“Um and it was really a case of just trying to get to half time. And then that said, I thought the last sort of 15 minutes of first half, we started getting to grips with the game.
“Ashley had that shot to hit the bar and we had a few chances. Um, but we just lacked a little bit of composure at the right moments. That was all that was lacking for me and maybe just a little bit of intensity.
“Um and I think that’s that comes from no one wants to really make a mistake or jump out of their slot to get past round.
“Second half was a lot braver. Um it then turned into a little bit of a basketball match which worries me because that’s not really what we want particularly when we’re at home. Um, and there were some big blocks and big tacles and big challenges we made and which I’d expect us to make by the way.
“And then, I thought we were good for it then. I thought we were only one team. I think Matt Macey made a really good save. We rattled the bar. We had a couple of other chances, but it’s a clean sheet and a really important three points. We keep this run going. That’s the most important thing for me.”
Bromley however were deal an early injury blow as loanee, Jesse Debrah went down in the eighth minute and had to be replaced by fellow loanee, Zech Medley, whose performance drew praise from Woodman.
“Zech Medley was unbelievable when he came on. I thought he was really good and that’s a really good example of someone that’s come here, trained properly, kept himself right, waited his time, and I thought he was excellent today. I thought they were all good, you know, at the back.
“But, you know, credit to Zech, come straight on to pitch and I thought he just slotted in there exactly like I knew he would.”
Woodman proceeded to praise his defence for their performance as he spoke of their nerves of steel.
“And I think that’s the stage of the season, and everyone thinks there’s nerves. I mean, our boys have got no nerves in there. They’re just ‘games are going to be scrappy and games are going to be tight and there’s going to be moments and teams are going to have moments’.
The 54-year old manager proceeded to reveal that he isn’t surprised at moaning oppositional managers of their recent matches as he quipped his thoughts on what Colchester manager – Danny Cowley might of thought post-match.
“I’m sure their manager say, ‘You know, they were the better team, blah blah blah. Can’t believe we lost blah blah blah.’ We’ve had a lot of people say that, we put top of the table. ‘So, um, he must be doing right.’
Kabamba’s winner came from a deflection of Will Hondermarck’s pass which left Woodman chuffed at the performances of the pair.
“Will was excellent today. Nicke led the line really well first half but needed a bit of help up there which we know you know we know that but we have to you know we can’t.
“There’s certain moments in the game we got to make key decisions and I know everyone wants us to start to up top and do this do that, you have to just find out the game a little bit and then Marcus [Dinanga] came on.
“I thought Marcus did well as well so um there were a lot of positives out there and the most important thing got seven games left I think we’re top of the table another three points another clean sheet and these boys just keep playing forward.
“I mean they’re straight onto the next game, you know and you probably heard them in there. There’s no real massive celebrations. Um, we’re pretty humble. We’re pretty grounded and we and look, we haven’t achieved anything yet. We know that.”
Bromley’s next game sees them head to rock-bottom Barrow but Woodman iterated that nobody should go there expecting a comfortable result, given that Barrow are fighting for survival.
“That’d be a tough game. Don’t get any illusions about where they are and how they got beat today and this that they’re fighting for their lives. They’re at home. It’s a long journey. So we’ve got to make sure we are bang on it, prepared to go there and get a result. And we have to just keep winning. You know, I don’t think we should worry about what’s going on behind us, below us.
You know, we got to just keep concentrating on what we’re doing. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do until we are mathematically where we want to be.”
Woodman’s Ravens however are heading there on a 21-match unbeaten run which left the 54-year old boss quipping about whether he gets “a stand named after me?”
He however quicky spoke of his pride at the new club record but quietly insisted that promotion is the priority.
“Uh, of course I’m proud. Look, I’m proud of that. I’m proud of all the things we’ve achieved. We’ve achieved a load of things. Um, but look, there’s only one thing we want to achieve. Let’s be honest. I’m not worried about any of that.
“Just want to make sure I get this club to exactly where I promise I’d get them to.”
Bromley are away in their next two matches at Barrow and Barnet before they host Shrewsbury on Tuesday 7 April, meaning that they have gone 373 days unbeaten at home come that date, having last tasted defeat at the Copperjax Community Stadium on 29 March 2025 against Salford.
Woodman however feels that his team need to make their home a fortress and urged Bromley residents to get to every home match possible.
“I think we have to make it like that. I think we did it when we were in the National League with the Astro pitch or the forge as they called it and then we sort of struggled last year with a new pitch. Everyone was like ‘Oh dear, you know, blah blah.’ We had to change that and um and we have changed it and a calendar year to not get beat at home, you know.
“Wow. If I was a Bromley supporter, I lived in Bromley, I’d be coming to every home game because you never see us get beat.”
Leave a Reply