In Review: Bromley 2 - 2 Crewe Alexandra

When you’ve gone on a run of one defeat in fifteen league games, at some point you’re going to run out of gas. In hindsight, last-minute equaliser notwithstanding, Bromley should feel happy to have escaped with a point on a night when they were well below their best.

Join me as I look at The Good, The Bad and The Ugly from Bromley’s 2-2 draw with Crewe Alexandra.

Bromley 2 Whitely 31', Thompson 70'

Crewe Alexandra 2Pond 54', Demetriou 90+4'

Formation: 4231

Grant Smith

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Lakyle Samuel

Omar Sowunmi (Carl Jenkinson 82')

Kyle Cameron

Idris Odutayo

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Ashley Charles

Jude Arthurs (Will Hondermarck 64')

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Corey Whitely (Brooklyn Ilunga 55')

Ben Krauhaus (Ben Thompson 64')

Mitchell Pinnock 

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Michael Cheek (Nicke Kabamba 65')

I couldn’t believe it when I read on Bromley’s X feed that this was Corey Whitley’s first goal of the season. He has a penchant for a spectacular goal, but this one was out of the conventional locker; doing well to dispossess Max Sanders before advancing and shooting beyond Ian Lawlor.

If Bromley are going to get over the automatic promotion line, then increasing the contributions from Whitely will be critical. On days when the usual suspects aren’t firing, the support cast needs to step up to the plate. Corey should set himself a target of at least another five goal contributions in the eighteen league games that remain. 

This was another game where Andy Woodman’s finishers combined to provide a critical interjection. The second goal was a product of a three-man move between Brooklyn Ilunga and Will Hondermarck, finished by Ben Thompson. It oh so nearly proved the match-winning moment. 

Interestingly, Ben Thompson has five goal contributions, and Will Hondermarck has six. That’s more than Whitely, Krauhaus, Arthurs, and Charles. 

At what point do finishers become starters and vice versa? I suspect Andy Woodman may be asking himself the same question, given he said he rued not making substitutions earlier on the night.

I cannot imagine, or maybe that should read I don’t want to imagine what will happen if Bromley remain unchanged at Gillingham on Saturday. 

I predicted that following Deji Elerewe’s departure to Lincoln City, every goal Bromley conceded would spark a protracted debate about Bromley’s defensive capability without the young centre-back. And so it has come to pass.

Crewe were good on the ball and Bromley were sloppy defensively. Really, the question boils down to how much Crewe made Bromley chase the ball and how good they were at working angles to cause Bromley defensive headaches.

Sometimes the easy answer is the wrong answer. Yes, Deji has departed, but I don’t think that was the reason for the last-minute goal Bromley conceded, nor the draw that followed.

Multi-causal factors are a thing, and this felt like a multi-causal match.

This result was a combination of mounting fatigue and playing a possession-dominant side, mixed with defensive injuries and subpar performances in certain areas.  

Some feel the late goal was due to Omar Sowunmi being forced off the pitch due to injury and/or being on a booking. Even if I were to buy that, I think it overlooks a defensively ponderous night in general. Bromley didn’t suddenly turn weak defensively after he went off. 

This is why Andy was so eager to stress how good Crewe were. I make him right. Crewe were better than Bromley and forced mistakes and a panicked performance out of Woodman’s side. 

We should also remember that analysing a defensive performance means analysing how an entire team defends, not just the defence. 

Bromley were second-best (defensively) all over the pitch at times. 

I thought Lakyle Samuel had a difficult night at right back. It felt to me like Crewe were targeting him, and he had an uncomfortable night on and off the ball.

The late goal can be put down to several factors, starting with Bromley’s failure to clear the ball multiple times. Watch it back, two players run into each other while trying to clear a routine ball.

When it was eventually swung back in, Lakyle didn’t see the back-post run from Demetriou. Watch his reaction after the goal; he knows he’s messed up. 

A few fans messaged me their fears about what Bromley are going to do if Omar Sowunmi is injured for Gillingham away. Their anxiety stemmed from Carl Jenkinson’s 15-minute cameo, where Crewe targeted Sowunmi’s absent height by peppering the box repeatedly. 

Whilst that anxiety may have some merit, I do think a 15-minute return after a long injury is not the right time to critique Jenkinson. 

That said, defensive reinforcements are needed, and Deji will need to be replaced. At the time of writing, we are expecting an announcement regarding a new signing or two. If my sources are correct, these arrivals fit the profile Bromley require. However, time will ultimately determine whether that is the case.

It feels like much of my analysis of this game isn’t particularly positive, but I end by reminding fans that Bromley are still 6 points clear at the top of League Two. By my reckoning, they need another 23 points from a possible 54 to seal automatic promotion. 

You can see why Andy Woodman still firmly believes his side are “bang on target.”

Grant Smith (6)

Lakyle Smuel (5)

Omar Sowunmi (6)

Kyle Cameron (6)

Idris Odutayo (6)

Ashley Charles (6)

Jude Arthurs (6)

Corey Whitely (7)

Ben Krauhaus (7)

Mitchell Pinnock (6)

Michael Cheek (6)

Subs: 

Nicke Kabamba for Michael Cheek 65’ (6)

Will Hondermarck for Jude Arthurs 64’ (7)

Brooklyn Ilunga for Corey Whitely 55’ (7)

Ben Thompson for Ben Krauhaus 64’ (7)

Carl Jenkinson for Omar Sowunmi 82’ (6)