[ Reply: | The Pissed Raven ]
Posted by Jonas77 on 1/11/2006, 3:12 pm Conference South side Hayes FC awaited us in the FAC3QR, so a step up in level would be a good test of the current Bromley team. Off the pitch the journey over was quite an experience. Arriving at Hayes with Stokes, Garvo, Sven, Mash etc you were hit straight away by the doom and gloom of the area. Not wanting to put a dampener on the day, we went for a couple of drinks, and even bumped into a certain school teachers former pupil. After the humour of the situation, it was agreed how football and work need never meet again. We made our way to the ground in a confident mood, as Hayes hadn’t exactly been setting their league on fire. So it would come to pass, as we ran away 3-1 winners, in a display which put Hayes to the sword. It was such an amazing showing by the ravens, that we could’ve had 5 or 6 quite easily. Nic McDonnel grabbed a brace, he should’ve had a hat-trick, we hit the woodwork on 3 occasions and general ran the show. Despite Hayes being a league higher, at times it was like watching men against boys. After the game we stopped off for another drink, work and football collided again (it was still as funny!) and we discussed the FAC4QR draw. With the Conference teams joining in, we decided that we would be fine with any draw, although Oxford Utd and Grays Ath were ones we didn’t fancy for different reasons. The draw was made the following Monday, and we got Grays Athletic away. Another game on the road, against one of the best non-league sides in the country. The initial response was disappointment with our FAC4QR draw, but soon optimism took over, and the plans for a fun day away (is this possible in Grays?) took hold. Realistically we were hoping to grab a draw and bring them back for a replay at Hayes Lane, at worst we would give it a good shot and have a laugh. The Grays fans seemed pretty confident about the outcome, and although they knew we were a decent side predictions of 5, 6 and even 7-1 for full time had been banded about. I did my best to keep them concerned about Bromley, pointing out that we weren’t a Sunday league side and could cause them some problems. By the day before, Bromley fan were talking up a draw and replay, while the odds from the Grays side had gone down to a 3-1 victory, after a tough game. 11:00am on Saturday 28th and Bromley fans started descending to the pub in Fenchurch St train station. The small crew I met up with included, Mash, Will, Ed, Hemp, Dan, Garvo and Sven etc. A good atmosphere was in the air, drinks flowed and we started to think about what the day might bring. The general feeling still had a draw down as a great result, and a defeat but battling effort as the more probable outcome. Some losers came in wearing t-shirts with the monopoly board on the back, obviously doing some nonsense pub crawl based around the game, I do wish our antipodean friends would not act like such fools. As the time passed we set off for the train, 30 minutes later we would be in FA cup heaven or hell? The train ride was interesting, we passed lots of affordable housing, and one of our party (****) couldn’t work out that when the toilet door doesn’t open someone is inside, so urinated in the carriage. Im not going to give out names, but a clue for the culprit is he’s a student, based in the North!! We had arrived, and like the previous round felt the doom and gloom of Grays rushing through our veins, it was grey and miserable looking, but I feel the Bromley fans lightened up the area somewhat. By the time of kick off, Bromley’s fans had filled up one end, and we were set for 90 minutes of action. The noise from the away fans was really impressive, as everyone came together as one to back the team. Grays had a lot of support too, although the official attendance of 820 was a bit low in everyone’s opinion. I reckon Bromley had at least 400 in the crowd, and there’s no way Grays only had another 400, the non-league attendance fiddle continues I guess. The game was a pretty open affair, Grays looked stronger at the start, especially going forward but defensively they looked a bit shaky so there was always hope. The game was evenly matched when on 11 minutes Lloyd Blackman gave the ravens the lead, with a well taken effort. Bromley had gone 1-0 up, and started to come more into the game. Grays pushed for an equalizer, but apart from hitting the bar from a free kick, didn’t trouble Andy Walker with long range efforts. Eventually the pressure paid off, as Grays grabbed a goal to make it 1-1 and game on. Bromley were holding their own against the Conference side, and a slice of good fortune from a defenders slip, allowed Blackman to grab his 2nd goal of the afternoon, and put the ravens 2-1 before half time. The second half was all a blur, I think I spent more time looking at my watch, at other people, anywhere apart from the game really. Grays rallied for a while, but Bromley grew in confidence and started to dictate the game in spells. We had one 5 minute spell, where we should’ve grabbed a third goal, but although not able to finish the game, broke the Grays players down, as the defenders and goal keeper started pointing fingers at each other. At this point I started to believe we would get the win, and as the clock ticked on we edged even closer. A magic 5 minutes of injury time couldn’t stop us on the day, and as the final whistle went, everyone connected to Bromley FC went mental for a famous FA Cup victory!! Not only had we performed at a higher level, but we had held our own, and more importantly made the draw for the FA Cup First round. Everyone was watching the draw on BBC, and praying to avoid another non-league side. As the numbers passed, and still no sign of Bromley FC. We missed Millwall, Swansea and Leatherhead so that was fine in my book. Then it happened, Gillingham were drawn from the hat, and their opponents will be…Bromley!! The ongoing theme of acting like a mentalist continued, as everyone started jumping up and down, which im sure the Grays fans in their bar loved. We had avoided another non-league side, and drawn a local derby against Gillingham of League One. Surely we couldn’t continue our crazy away run, and grab another win, (I wont lie I’d take a draw and replay)? Im not sure, but I do know that it will be one of the best days in the recent history of Bromley FC, and one that everyone will make the most of… Roll on the 11th, John.
I wasn’t able to make the AFC Totton game, so have only been to 75% of the cup run, but still I think I can claim a part of the magic. Lowerstoft Town away in the FAC2QR saw me getting to Colin’s at 10am for a lift to the seaside! At that time, going by train wasn’t a financial option so getting a ride in a car was a godsend. Arriving at England’s most easterly point with Rich, Martin and Col we set off in search of some food, fish and chips all round soon followed, as did some samba styled beach soccer by the old boys, and then onto the game. I must point out that I had a fun afternoon in Lowerstoft, the possibility for a cup upset was always about, and as the game dragged on you felt one chance would be enough. Luckily after a battle for 90 minutes, a slice of good fortune saw the ball drop to Tony Boot who snatched a goal, and set up a 1-0 victory in injury time. The Bromley fans behind the goal went mental, as we knew we had just got away from a very tricky tie and into the next round. The FA Cup dream lived on for another two weeks.
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ThePissedRaven... Dedicated to the memory of Chris Small. A Bromley fan, a boozing buddy and above all, a good mate. Rest in peace Chris.