Andy Woodman has praised Bromley for a “solid” 0-0 draw against Cambridge United at the CopperJax Stadium.
Bromley began the match knowing that a win would see them promoted but were instead held to an entertainingly competitive goalless draw by third-placed Cambridge, which extended their unbeaten home run in League Two to 25 matches.
Reflecting on the draw in his post-match interview with Bromley’s YouTube channel, Woodman was pleased with how both teams approached their blockbuster clash in not wanting to lose, yet having enough desire to have a go at trying to get the win nevertheless rather than settle for a point apiece.
“I feel it was two teams not wanting to get beat but actually having a go to try and win it. They’ll be kicking themselves they didn’t put one of those early chance away, which were good chances for them.
“After that, I felt we were pretty solid. We didn’t give up much and we probably could have nicked it. Um, keeper made a great save. Uh but I was more chuffed that we kept a clean sheet and we looked solid and we kept really pushing and asking questions of them, and that was important for us at home.”
“And we’re not beaten still.”
Woodman proceeded to highlight the importance of not losing a marquee game at this stage of the season, especially after Cambridge thrashed Notts County last weekend as he praised Neil Harris and the Us for giving his team a cracking test.
“You know, at this stage of the season, it’s about making sure you get clean sheets. There’s no doubt about that. We’ll always create chances. And I was really happy with that. We looked, you know, having done that early couple of minutes where they had a couple of chances, we’re looking pretty solid and settled.
“And we was good value, you know, they’re a team that have just beat Notts County 4-0. Uh and they’re not a bad outfit. So, credit to Neil and his team. I thought, uh you know, they’re a good team, and I thought we dealt with them, and we were unlucky not to get the win.”
Bromley almost won the game and promotion in the 96th minute if not for a serious of blocks which left Woodman happy to see them not settling for a point, whilst having the fight to stick to their DNA under his reign at the club.
“I think that’s what we are, we’ve never come away from that. That’s our DNA. We’ve got to just make sure we maintain that, and we keep asking questions of the opposition, which we done tonight.
“Um and we will get our rewards, you know, I know we didn’t get it tonight, and everyone’s holding their breath, but you know, other teams have still got to get all their results now, and that’s the important thing for us.”
Woodman made five changes for the match and captain, Byron Webster was amongst those brought into the starting line-up, with Woodman proud to see Webster’s experience and leadership benefit the team.
“Byron’s my go-to guy, um I just felt we hadn’t kept a clean sheet. I felt like we probably just needed a little bit of experience in there. I felt it was a game where we didn’t need to have a high line.
“Um with respect to Byron, and he does what Byron does, you know, the guy’s a absolute legend of a captain for me, and a legend of a guy.
“So I’m delighted he went in there. Just he never lets me down, ever.”
Cambridge however had an emergency loan goalkeeper in goal after Preston’s Jack Walton came in for the suspended Jake Eastwood, which left Woodman bemused at how the Us played the emergency loan system rather than start Ben Hughes who is their second-choice goalkeeper.
“Yeah, I mean a force field or a loan goalkeeper from a Championship club, which always mystifies me. Probably, um that was a surprise. You know, I don’t know how those rules work, that you get a keeper sent off, and then you can loan emergency one. I don’t see where the penalty is there, but that’s the rules.
“Um and you can see I’m a bit bitter about that, cos it was a great save. Um but we got to just make sure we keep taking care of our business, and the force field was, you know, there. There was bodies being throw on the line there.
Over 5000 spectators were in attendance with Woodman proud of the contributions that both set of fans made to the atmosphere.
“Support was great. I mean, Cambridge’s support was fantastic as well. I’ll give them credit. Thought they made a real good noise over there as well.
“And our supporters, you know, matched the noise, and it was a fantastic game to be involved in, you know, it really was. It was really sort of like edge-of-seat stuff for both sets of fans and probably both managers.”
Bromley now visit Salford on Thursday 23 April at 8pm BST, but could already be promoted by then if Barnet avoid defeat at Notts County on Saturday 18 April, but Woodman nevertheless is taking a pragmatic approach as they are still top with the title in their own hands.
“Look we’ve still got everything in our own hands, which is nice. Um and which is how we want it. So we’ve got to just keep taking care of what we’re doing now, and that’s the important thing we do.”
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