Bromley Head Coach, Andy Woodman felt that “there’s loads loads more pluses” after a 1-1 draw at Barnet in their final pre-season friendly.
JJ McKiernan’s strike salvaged a 1-1 draw for Bromley after Kabongo Tshimanga fired Barnet into a 11th-minute lead from the penalty spot, following Nathan Patten’s high-footed foul on Danny Collinge.
Woodman post-match was pleased with the performance as he spoke to Bromley’s YouTube channel post-match about the quality that he witnessed at The Hive.
“I thought it was a really actually good pre-season game. Exactly what I wanted to get out of the game. High tempo. Um, a lot of uh real stuff of what we’re about and what they’re about. You know, the game was played by both teams trying to win.
“Um, come through with no injuries and I felt we looked a lot more like ourselves today. What we’re doing, you know, that was the real key for me. We’re still not there yet. We know that. And we haven’t really had the full team together, but it was a real, you know, good good performance all around.
“There’s loads loads more pluses than I can really sort of imagine.
The friendly was played in 24 degrees temperatures which left Woodman pleased with the effort and graft.
“Yeah, that’s key on a hot day. I mean, it’s really hot. Um, and they really put a shift in, you know, they kept trying to play the game at the tempo we play at. And uh, that’s important.”
18-year-old defender, Patten in particular drew praise from Woodman for his pre-season performances
“He’s had an unbelievable pre-season. I mean, I just said to him, absolutely superb pre-season. Um, so I’m really chuffed for him. He’s been really good all the way through. Come back, look strong, powerful, and backed up with performances. Um, yeah, he’s had a really good pre-season. He’s been a real uh bright spark.”
Woodman also acknowledged the collective performance of the young players who joined the first team in pre-season but warned that their development still need to be managed.
“Yeah, the young lads did okay. They did okay. I think we got to just make sure that it’s just part of their development though. You know, you can’t they had done really well and I don’t want to take it away from them, but we saw the other side of last night of how this game catches you up you know if you dip them in and dip them out at the right times that’s fine.
“But if they’re exposed to it too much in the wrong environment, it can be tough for them. But um certainly today, those boys, you know, had the older boys around them and they came through, you know, really well.”
Having lost their last friendly 7-0 at home to QPR last night, Woodman felt happy at how the players who didn’t play last night produced a better performance, which left him keen to tidy up various aspects of their play.
“Yeah and I think that’s what we wanted to get out of the game, you know, and that’s kind of, you know, last night was a mismatch wasn’t it? Let’s be honest in every sense. Um, but uh today, you know, really good game, credit to Barnet, you know, they give us the usual battle that we have.
“Um, and there were some good moments. You know, we just got to polish up on a few bits, which you didn’t expect at this stage. You know we’ll have a week now of leading into the Reading game of nailing down some bits and bobs, um and making sure that we’re ready for that game.”
McKiernan’s goal came in his first appearance with Woodman left happy to see the midfielder show his potential after extensive work to sign him from Lincoln City.
“Yeah, for those who don’t know about JJ, I mean he was showing us little glimpses of what he’s about today considering he’s only been training once. Um excellent. I mean the finish was superb. He’s got that in his locker, but I thought his running once he got to grips with how we press and what his role in the team is, he was he was fantastic.
“And his hold-up play running off the ball was good. Um and that’s why I brought him to the club and you know, it took a lot of work to get JJ here, not just not just for him, but for, you know, convincing it was the right move for him. Um, you know, the conversations with Lincoln and that, his agent, and uh he’d be a real good addition to us, that’s for sure.”
Hours before the trip to Barnet, Bromley announced that Kamarl Grant had rejoined on a season-long loan from Millwall with Woodman happy to welcome the defender back and help him improve like previous loan signings such as Danny Imray who Crystal Palace sold to Wrexham recently.
“I’ve got a lot of time for Kamal. He’s been a good player first time round for us. I’ve kept in touch with Kamal. Um, and yeah, it’s great to have him on board. Um look, we all know what we’re getting from Kamal Grant. Uh, and it’s important that we keep adding to, you know, it’s not about what we’re getting from Kamal Grant.
“We keep adding to Kamal Grant and make sure that, you know, he becomes a real big fixture in our team and we progress his career like we’ve done with all the others, you know, Danny Imray and all the others, you know, we go on about.
“So I’m delighted to have him on board. He’s kept in touch all through the summer, all through last season. Um and it’s not just what he brings off the pitch, it’s what he brings, you know, on the pitch as well. So we’ve got a real good character in the building.”
With their final pre-season friendly against Liverpool Under-21s on Wednesday 5 August cancelled, Woodman is now relishing having a free week to prepare for their first-round tie at home against Reading in the Carabao Cup on Saturday 8 August at 3pm BST.
“Yeah, I mean I think that’s worked out really well for us. I know it doesn’t feel like that, but I felt we’d had one game too many um and another one in the week. I don’t think would have done us any favours. I really don’t. We got a clear week now. We can get our work done. We can get these boys all ready for training this week and have a clear week into the Reading game.
“And uh and then that’s it. It all starts. We’re back into it. Thanks good pre-season’s over!”
Bromley then visit Barnsley in their League One season-opener on 15 August at 3pm with Woodman excited to get their first third-tier campaign under way as he urged the fans to “embrace” the experience.
“Yeah, it’s going to come thick and fast. And I think there’s going to be some new challenges ahead. Um, but that’s what we want, isn’t it? I mean that’s what we all do it for.
“So I don’t think we should all worry about it. I think we should moan about it and I think we should embrace it and take it full on. And that’s what I’ve done since day one. And this group of players will follow suit with me.”