Dean Keates has positive memories of welcoming Bromley to The Racecourse. His first win as manager came at their expense in October 2016 as Shaun Harrad and Gerry McDonagh scored the goals in a 2-1 win.
Keates would clear his squad out swiftly though, as only two of the players used in that match would still be at the club by the start of next season: Mark Carrington, who played in the centre of midfield, and Leo Smith, who came off the bench to make his debut.
We’d played Bromley at home once before then. In February 2016 we beat them 2-0, with Lee Fowler and Connor Jennings scoring the goals in the first half.
Remarkably, it was Lee Fowler’s first start in 20 games and only his second of the season, despite Gary Mills making him captain that Summer and the midfielder being fit all season.
In September 2019 we made it three home wins out of three as Ntumba Massanka scored two second half goals to clinch a 2-0 win, but we lost our perfect record in galling circumstances last season.
Mike Fondop gave us the half time lead, and when Rekeil Pyke doubled the lead with 25 minutes left, we looked on course for a comfortable win.
Within four minutes we’d conceded from a penalty, but in added time we still held the lead. Luke Summerfield would inadvertently flick a near post corner into his own net.
Picture courtesy of Alun Roberts – all inquiries to @aluninhope on Twitter.
Overall, this fixture is perfectly balanced, with both sides enjoying three victories. We’re on our longest run without a win over Bromley though, having not beaten them in three games, since September 2017.
