Bromley Head Coach, Andy Woodman has urged his team “to get more clinical” after they exited the Carabao Cup on penalties to Reading.
Josh Stokes initially fired Reading ahead on a rebound finish from Daniel Kyerewaa’s blocked shot, before Michael Cheek equalised for the Ravens through a 33rd-minute finish from Omar Sowunmi’s through-ball pass, which saw the match ultimately finish 1-1 amidst a red card for Bromley’s Richard Taylor.
Woodman’s Ravens eventually crashed out of the competition after Ethon Archer tamely their final penalty into Joel Pereira’s arms, having converted their first four spot-kicks whilst Reading scored all five of their penalties
Woodman however was pleased at the performance and comeback goal as he spoke to Bromley’s YouTube Channel post match, but felt that their end product needs to be more clinical when they begin their League One campaign next weekend.
“Excellent. I thought we showed what we’re about today. I thought we showed all the DNA, all the characteristics of my team. They’re one of the favourites by the way. So credit to them. I thought they were very good. They started really well. We took a bit of time to get to grips with it.
“But once we started doing what we’re good at and started making sure we put pressure on their backline, I thought we had the better chances and I was disappointed we conceded and disappointed we didn’t get a couple of goals.
“But that said, we got to get more clinical in front of goal at those moments. But overall for me, it’s a real good finale for us before the real stuff starts next week.”
As a former goalkeeper himself, Woodman praised both Shamal George and Pereira for their performances in a high-quality match from both clubs.
“I thought both goalkeepers by the way were in great form and I thought it was actually a really good match to be honest, you know, from both teams. I thought the tempo, the quality, uh the desire for both teams to win was a really good showing. On a personal note, my team looked everything I wanted it to be.”
Cheek also drew praise from Woodman for his performance and goal after he had likely been awake all night because his wife had been in labour, with the forward’s professionalism considered as “everything” by the 54-year-old manager.
“Yeah, Michael Cheek bless his heart. His wife’s had a baby at six o’clock this morning so credit to him. He gone out there today. He said he was fine. He’s probably been up all night and he goes and puts a performance in like that and gets a goal. That says everything about Michael Cheek.”
Taylor was red carded for an unintentional 90th-minute elbow on Reading’s Udoka Godwin-Malife but Woodman felt that the defender had it tough, having been brought on when the game was played at a high tempo.
“I’m gutted for Rich, bless his heart. He’s come on. He’s had a couple of funny moments. It’s not easy coming on at left back in a game that’s at that tempo. But even there’s positives out of that.
“You know, we’ve dug in as a group. We know we can dig in. We can change the formation. Uh and we showed resilience against a good team with 10 men.
“So the whole thing for me couldn’t have worked out any better I got to be honest.”
Jacob Mendy and Ashley Charles limped off in the second half with injury concerns but Woodman is pessimistic about how the team will cope if their injuries are serious.
“It’s all too early to speculate anything on that. So we’ll wait and see tomorrow and see how they go. But that’s what the squad’s about. You know, we’ve got young kids ready to come in now that can easily play. So, no worries with that.
“You know if we’re going to expect there’s going to be injuries, there’s going to be people left out, people sent off. It’s part and parcel of the season.”
With fans turning out in their thousands for the tie, Woodman was pleased that his squad produced a performance to make the fans feel confident of their potential heading into the league campaign, with many pundits having predicted them for relegation.
“I mean I think if I’m a football supporter at any level, I want a team that goes out and represents me as, and I mean this as a respect, as a sort of someone that pays my money and comes up every week and watches the team.
“We were going to have a real go and give it everything and you couldn’t say there was one player out there today that didn’t give it everything and that’s going to be us for 46-48 games.”
“Excellent. Yeah, it was good atmosphere. We’re all ready now. We’re ready to go and uh there’s no worries with this group. I tell that now.”
Bromley are next in action on Saturday 15 August at 3pm BST away to Barnsley at Oakwell in their League One opener, with Woodman chuffed to have secured the trip there at this time of the year, as he reflected on the fact that this season is a journey into the unknown.
“Amazing place. You know, I’ve been to Barnsley. I mean it’s a great time to go to Barnsley. Let me tell you this time of year. Uh cos I have been there in the January and it’s proper cold.
“Every game’s going to be an adventure for the supporters, for the players, for my staff. And um we just got to make sure we go with that same mentality, that same desire, that same resilience and relentlessness, which is what we’re about and we’ll be ok.”
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