Bromley manager, Andy Woodman has slammed referee, Simon Mather for his “strange” decision-making in their 2-1 League One defeat at Mansfield.
Nathan Moriah-Welsh’s 49th-minute winner saw Mansfield stay out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 home victory and dropped Bromley into the bottom four, as they fell to 21st position despite JJ McKiernan’s first-half equaliser to cancel out Stephen McLaughlin’s opening effort.
Woodman post-match in his interview to BFC TV was critical of Mather’s refereeing after Marcus Ifill was booked for diving despite having been fouled inside the box in the first half, whilst a goal kick was incorrectly given in injury time instead of a corner kick.
“In fact we might have had a penalty first half as Marcus goes down and the ref decides to book him. Strange. And then right at the end we should have had a corner, ref decides to give him a goal kick and booked two of our players.
“So there’s some strange going-ons out there, but we’ve got to move forward and if we keep putting that level of performance in and just up the levels of detail and the final bits, you know, we’re going to probably be alright. But I just don’t want to get in a rut of saying that.”
Woodman also acknowledged that Mather’s refereeing were amongst margins that cost his team a draw at minimum.
“Yeah it comes down to margins and, you know, the margins with some of the decisions the ref made and some of the decisions we made, you know, and I’m not, it sounds like a bit of saying that, which I’m not, but some of them decisions for both teams by the way were quite straightforward decisions.”
Woodman however refused to totally blame Mather for the loss as he explained that Bromley’s end product also played a role in their defeat,
“Yeah, it was tough to go straight up straight. Not long after half time, It kind of made it look a little bit desperate really, but can’t criticise the lads for their work rate, their endeavour, they’re trying to get a goal. We’ve just got to get a little bit better at the final detail, the final path, the final ball, the final cut back, just those bits and piece which we’re desperately trying to do.
“Yeah it’s a bitter pill to swallow, you know, one breath.”
Woodman also felt that his Ravens were the better attacking side after McLaughlin opened the scoring for Mansfield despite the winds, yet was critical of the fact that his players failed to trouble Mansfield goalkeeper, Liam Roberts as he again alluded to their final touches.
“I thought we had better chances, you know, wiggly enough into the wind, strong wind. I thought we, you know, we caused them problems, but caused them problems without really their keeper making a save.
“So you know, for all of that good work getting there, you know, the final bits got to be better, and that’s, you know, what we have to keep working on and that’s the difference, you know, between winning and losing today.”
“Just that final bit, I mean, just decision making and execution, but I don’t know, it’s a tough place to come. It’s a tough place to come and we were close, but just not quite close enough.”
McKiernan has now scored two goals in his last two appearances for Bromley despite dealing with an illness and Woodman is pleased with the 24-year-old’s performances.
“He’s been excellent, you know, he’s been excellent and I’d like to keep him on the pitch, but he’s been ill. He’s kind of, he gives us everything, he’s getting kicked to pieces and he, you know, another good goal by him.
“He’s a real live wire and a real decent player for us up top, just off the front man. He’s been yeah really good.”
Jodie Jones meanwhile made his first league appearance in a Bromley shirt and Woodman admitted that his players didn’t provide him with the ideal service to deliver a fightback.
“Yeah, we didn’t get the ball enough to him as much as I wanted, but when we did get it to him, he looked a threat every time. And that’s what we want from Jodie. So, he’s working progress, he’s on the right path. So that was good as well, yeah.”
Grant Smith meanwhile was an unused substitute on his first matchday appearance after he suffered a stress fracture in pre-season, but the 55-year-old gaffer clarified that the goalkeeper isn’t fully fit for selection yet.
“Yeah, Grant, he’s not quite there yet. If I was to be really honest, he’s still just not quite there, but, you know, we needed him to just be in the squad today.”
Bromley now head to Stockport County on Saturday 17 October and Woodman is anticipating another “tough” test that is winnable as long as his players stay united.
“I think I’ll be saying that a lot. You know we just got to make sure as I said to the guys in there, ‘stick together, keep working hard, keep you know, keep trying to do the right things and keep believing.’ And that’s the most important thing.”
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