Andy Woodman has criticised Bromley for a “disaster” defence in their eventual 2-1 defeat at MK Dons.
Woodman’s Ravens began the match aware that victory would see them promoted but a loose headed backpass was intercepted and finished by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing within 35 seconds, before Ben Wiles wrapped up the hosts’ win with a 16th-minute finish.
The hosts were reduced to ten men in the 67th minute after Jon Mellish was red carded following a fracas after a collision with Omar Sowunmi.
Marcus Ifill netted a 74th-minute consolatory goal as Bromley’s promotion dreams were delayed until at least 16 April when they host Cambridge United at 8pm BST.
Woodman post-match rued the defensive play as their downfall in his post-match interview with Bromley’s YouTube channel.
“It was disaster, wasn’t we? I mean, we gifted them a goal after 30 seconds. Um, I mean we could have played them in any better to finish which is disappointing. And then we gifted them another goal, you know, and after that, they looked like a really good team, didn’t they?
“Let’s be honest, they could have gone four or five up at that point. We were all over the place. Um, and that happens, you know, when you give the goal so early, players displaced. It was the worst start we could have possibly had. Second half, you know, we knew if we got a goal, there’d be a little bit of nerves around the place, which there was.
“Um, and then the keeper pulls out an unbelievable save, which stops us getting an equaliser, and I have to say, the ref doesn’t give us a penalty, which is a penalty.”
Woodman further dug in to his team’s poor start as he added that if they had gone tight then Stadium MK would of grown nervous as the game wore on, but admitted that MK Dons are a higher-quality team which got the result to leave his team feeling disappointment.
“It’s the worst possible start you can have coming to any place at this stage of the season, you know, just to be just to give this place a lift. And it’s exactly what they needed. The longer we have kept it tight, the more nerves probably would have crept in around here.
“It wasn’t to be. Um, and let’s be honest, their budget, their quality of players, the 11 of this place, you know, they should be way, way beyond us.
“And, um, the fact that we’re disappointed that we haven’t got a result here just tells me where we’re at and how far we’ve come.”
Such was the sloppiness of the first half, Woodman made a quadruple change at half time but he felt that he would of changed the whole outfield if he could of, although he was glad that the substitutions improved the team’s performance.
“I could have made ten changes at half time. I really could have, you know, it was just one of those that let’s just throw changes and caution to the wind and see if we can come up with something. Um, and we did. We looked much better second half.
“Um, that’s no reflection of the boys I took off because like I say, I could have took anyone off. Um, and we were a better outfit second half, but I always say that it’s easy to play when you’re 2-0 down. You know, you got to do all that horrible stuff at 0-0 and we didn’t quite do it today.”
Aside from Ifill’s equaliser, Ben Krauhaus saw a late penalty refused by referee, Will Finnie after he had been clipped by Alex Gilbey whilst Jude Arthurs and Sowunmi were denied late on, which left Woodman frustrated to not snatch a draw but he is glad to have that four-points buffer at the top.
“Yeah, it could’ve been, but it wasn’t. Um, and that’s, you know, that’s a shame, but we have to go again. And um, it’s all fun and games isn’t it? Top of the table, and we are still top.”
With a home clash against Cambridge next up on Thursday, Woodman is optimistic that his team still have promotion in their hands.
“Still clear, still three to play, and still all in our hands. Um, and we’ll probably all be looking at the results this afternoon. See how they pan out. There’s a lot of football still to be played. You know, there’s still, I think, nine points to go for and we got to make sure we just keep taking care of our business.
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