In Review: FA Youth Cup Fourth Round - Bromley 1-2 Ipswich Town

Lining up 3-5-1, Jamel Wojtczak’s side got off to a lively start, zipping the ball around Hayes Lane’s soggy but superb playing surface. Positive play earned the Ravens an early series of corners, which Ipswich keeper Josh Bentley dealt with very well. Then, on 12 minutes, entirely against the run of play, Ipswich took the lead. A sloppy moment saw Bromley keeper Charlie Burton delay with the ball at his feet. He was promptly dispossessed by Nelson Eze, and the tall striker crossed for Will Unadike to convert from close range to put the visitors ahead. 

Undeterred by the setback, Bromley kept pressing and came close to an equaliser when Max Rope hit the bar with a header. The Ravens eventually got their reward on 24 minutes when a long throw from Jedd Hobbs found its way to the far post, where Olodapo Anunlopo turned the ball home to make it 1-1. 

Bromley had been stronger in the challenge and were having the better of things, but just before the break, Ipswich rallied. During a positive spell, Uslsya Longwe, Charlie Compton, and Nelson Eze all went close late on for the Tractor Boys, while Ryan Gjini headed a chance over for Bromley. 

The second half saw Ipswich looking far more positive, moving the ball with purpose and matching Bromley in the tackle. As the tide turned, Jayden Adetiba had a shot brilliantly tipped over by Charlie Burton. It was a warning sign the Ravens should have heeded, because on 63 minutes, Adetiba turned provider, crossing for Eze to head home and put Ipswich in front. 

From that point on, for long spells, Town held onto possession and kept Bromley at arm’s length. WIth patient play, the Tractor Boys worked an opening for Lenny O'Sullivan, who hit the side netting with a fierce drive. Despite being up against it, the young Ravens stuck to their guns and started making inroads into the final quarter. 

Late on, Bromley’s hotly-tipped young defender Nathan Patten had a header saved by Bentley, as Bromley switched to an attacking formation that featured two up front. It forced another chance in the dying stages, when the Ipswich keeper made a great save to deny Anunlopo's curling effort. 

As the clock ticked into injury time, the Ravens threw everybody forward in a bid to find an equaliser. It almost paid off, but Anunlopo’s effort from a tight angle smashed into the side-netting.

Time ran out and the visitors held on for the win, rightfully celebrating their achievement at the final whistle. They had edged a close battle, and their sliver of extra quality had seen them over the line, but they had been pushed all the way by the boys from Bromley’s academy.

To put this result in context, Ipswich have a Level 1 academy, the highest possible standard, putting them on a par with all of England’s elite clubs. Bromley, by contrast, have a Level 4 academy, and they have worked very hard to achieve that status. The fact that Bromley are going deep into cup competitions and going toe-to-toe with some of the best players and teams in the country is a clear indication of how well the youth system is being coached and managed. 

Bromley are Level 4 on paper, but Level 1 in attitude, and that counts for a lot. Here’s to more cup adventures in the seasons to come.

Bromley: Burton, Haftom, Humphries, Hobbs, Cooley, Patten, Rope, Essien, John, Gjini, Anunlopo. Subs: Bullen, Beeching, O'Donnell, Hassell, Ajagbe, Stammers, Ehi-Isiwele.

Ipswich: Bentley, Brouwers, O'Sullivan, Longwe, Wilkinson, Sains, Adetiba, Wood, Unadike, Eze, Compton. Subs: Duggins, Fletcher, Eldred, Nsofor, Pedder, Boakye-King, Brentnall.    

Goals - BFC: Anunlopo 24 mins ITFC: Unadike 12 mins, Eze 63 mins

HT 1-1 FT 1-2