United are back on the road tomorrow night as they head to Greater London to face Bromley, looking for another three points away from home.
Gary Johnson’s men will be looking to carry on where they left off at Halifax on Saturday, as they head for the first midweek game of the season under the floodlights at Hayes Lane.
Who’s the Boss?
Andy Woodman began his coaching career as Assistant Manager at Rushden & Diamonds in 2006, before more than a decade of coaching experience followed at the likes of West Ham, Charlton Athletic, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, and Arsenal.
Woodman has been at the helm at Hayes Lane since March 2021 and guided Bromley into the final play-off position of 2020/21 after the side had been 10th, four points adrift of the play-offs at the time of his arrival. Although a poor end to the 2021/22 league season meant they missed out on the play-offs, Woodman’s Bromley finished the season as FA Trophy Champions when the beat Wrexham 1-0 at Wembley thanks to a Michael Cheek goal.
How Have They Been Doing?
Bromley have started the season with one defeat and one draw so far. The opening game of the season saw them slip to a narrow 3-2 defeat at Wealdstone, before last Saturday saw their first home game of the campaign end in a goal-less draw with Altrincham leaving them in 20th position in the table coming into this game.
Player to watch
Omar Sowunmi is in his second season at Bromley having joined them in the summer of 2021 and scored the Ravens first goal of this season, netting the equaliser in their 3-2 defeat to Wealdstone on the opening day. Sowunmi came through the ranks at Ipswich Town but it was his move to Yeovil Town in 2015 that finally gave him his break in football. The defender who is also sometimes used as a striker, spent four years at Huish Park including one as captain in the 2018/18 season, before a move to his hometown club Colchester United for an undisclosed fee followed in 2019. The 26 year old spent two seasons with the U’s before his release led to his move to Hayes Lane, where he has made over 30 appearances and scored three goals.
Played for both
Joe Quigley came through the set-up at Bournemouth and it was while he was with the Cherries that he had loan spells at such clubs like Woking and Gillingham, and in 2015 played ten games for United scoring his only goal in a 2-2 draw with Grimsby Town. Upon his release from Dean Court, Quigley joined Maidstone United before he joined Bromley for the 2018/19 season but only played six games for the Ravens scoring one goal. Since leaving Hayes Lane the striker has spent a season at Dagenham & Redbridge, two seasons at Huish Park with Yeovil Town where he scored 16 goals in over 50 games and is now currently in the East Midlands at Chesterfield.
Previous encounter
Bromley 3 – 3 Torquay United AFC, 10th August 2019, National League.
United grabbed their first point away from home since promotion back to the National League in an entertaining six goal encounter at Hayes Lane, which didn’t start well for the Gulls as a Frankie Raymond free kick was tucked home from six yards by the Bromley captain Jack Holland. United steadied themselves after that and got themselves back into the game in the 35th minute when Lemonheigh-Evans was fouled in the area and up stepped Jamie Reid to level the scores.
Just as Torquay thought they would go in level at the break the Ravens went back in front with Michael Cheeks header being put onto the crossbar by MacDonald, only for it to fall to Joe Kizzi who restored the home sides lead. With the wind increasing in the second half Gary Johnson’s men had to keep it tight and gradually get back into the game. On 63 minutes they did just that as a fine passing move led to a cross to the back post where Lemonheigh-Evans flicked the ball into the net to level the game up again.
Six minutes later it got even better for United as they took the lead for the first time in the game, as Kalala crossed into the box where Jake Andrews was waiting with a confident finish. However that lead was to last only two minutes from a corner and with windy conditions, a Raymond corner flew over the head of MacDonald and straight in the net for the Bromley equaliser. Neither side was able to muster a winner in the closing stages leaving the score level and a point apiece for each side.