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MATCH PREVIEW: Bromley FC v Aldershot Town (A)

WHO ARE THE SHOTS PLAYING?

Bromley FC, The Ravens, Founded 1892

 

WHERE IS THE MATCH BEING PLAYED?

Hayes Lane, Bromley (Capacity: 5,000, with 1,300)

 

HOW DID THEY DO LAST SEASON?

The Ravens finished 7th in the National League last season, with 69 points, making the play-offs, where they lost to eventual winners Hartlepool United.

 

HOW DID SHOTS GET ON AGAINST THEM LAST SEASON?

Bromley took all six points in the games between the two sides last season. At Hayes Lane in January 2021, under Neil Smith, goals from Jack Bridge and Michael Cheek saw the Ravens win 2-0 in a game televised live on BT Sport. In May 2021, with Bromley pushing for the play-offs, a first half Cheek goal put them ahead, only for Shots to level through Harry Panayiotou, who later levelled again following James Alabi’s strike. Joe Kizzi popped up in the dying moments to grab a late winner for the Ravens and help secure their place in the end of season play-offs. This season, Bromley have already visited the EBB Stadium, coming from behind to win 3-2. They also visited again in January, knocking Aldershot out of the FA Trophy with a 2-0 win.

 

WHO’S THEIR GAFFER?:

Andy Woodman was appointed Bromley FC Manager. 50-year-old Woodman has 16 years of coaching experience, mainly in the Premier League. A former player, Woodman appeared for the likes of Crystal Palace, Brentford, Southend United and Colchester United. His Coaching journey began in 2006 with Rushden & Diamonds, where he was Assistant Manager. Re-uniting with former teammate Alan Pardew, he then became a Coach at Crystal Palace. Most recently, Woodman was head of Goalkeeping at Arsenal, a position he had held since 2018. He steered Bromley to that same 7th place finish last season and has the highest points-per-game accumulation in the National League since taking the helm at Hayes Lane.

 

RAVENS PLAYING SQUAD:

Players still at Hayes Lane from last season, include; Defenders Chris Bush & Byron Webster, Midfielders Billy Bingham & Luke Coulson and Strikers Cheek & James Alabi. Cheek – the only National League player to score double figures in goals for the last four seasons, is currently on 21 goals for the season in all competitions. Woodman has brought in plenty of new players to Hayes Lane this season. Most notable are; Defenders Joe Partington (Eastleigh) and Omar Sowumni (Colchester), Midfielder Sam Skeffington (Millwall, but was on loan at Barnet last season), Winger Harry Forster (Watford, on loan at Hayes Lane last season) and striker Louis Dennis, who returned to the club after a spell at Leyton Orient. More recently, Woodman has brought in a couple of players that appeared for Aldershot Town earlier this season, in Scott Wagstaff and Charlton loanee James Vennings.

 

ANY EX-SHOTS?

Wagstaff, Vennings and Partington have all worn the red & blue of Aldershot Town. Partington made 8 appearances on loan from AFC Bournemouth in 2014, scoring 1 goal, Wagstaff and Vennings were both at the EBB Stadium earlier this season.

 

WHO’S GOT THE WHISTLE?

Tuesday’s referee is Lloyd Wood. This season, he has taken charge of 13 National League matches, showing 37 Yellow Cards and 3 Red Cards. Three of those games have involved Aldershot Town – the home defeat to Solihull Moors in September, the 1-0 win at Kings Lynn in November and the 1-0 defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge in December.

 

WHERE TO FOLLOW THE MATCH:

If you are not going to Hayes Lane, there will be live online commentary of the game via BBC Radio Surrey Sport or the BBC Sport App, with Rob Worrall, and Guest Summariser, former Bromley manager Neil ‘Smudger’ Smith. There will also be Social Media coverage on Instagram & Twitter (@OfficialShots) with team news, updates and post-match coverage throughout.