Preview: Bromley vs Brentford B

In 2024/25, they finished last in a group containing Charlton, Cambridge United, and Chelsea U21s.In 2025/26, they came third in a group containing Stevenage, AFC Wimbledon, and Crystal Palace U21s.

In fact, they are yet to taste victory in the competition. Could the EFL curse end tonight against Brentford’s development side?

Bromley’s ‘Jersey Mike’s Trophy’ group, to give it its official name, sees the Ravens pitted against Brentford U21s, Crawley Town, and Milton Keynes Dons. 

On paper, it looks like a group Bromley can advance from, but there is no telling how seriously Andy Woodman will take the competition, let alone any of the other sides.

Competition rules state that a minimum of four qualifying outfield players must be named in the starting XI. A qualifying outfield player is one who meets any of the following requirements:

Consequently, it is pot luck as to who can guess the XI Andy Woodman chooses to play.

On one hand, it is a fantastic chance to use a competitive game to improve the fitness and match readiness of several players; Tobias Brennan, Jacob Mendy and Jodi Jones immediately spring to mind. 

However, given the raft of injuries, there is also a sense that Woodman will dip into his much-heralded youth cadre to fill out the squad. 

With the international break on the horizon, Bromley do not have another game until 6th October, which perversely will be the next game in the EFL Trophy, away at Crawley Town.

That will allow for plenty of time on the training ground, but minutes are minutes, and it’s hard to argue that Bromley shouldn’t use the 90 minutes against Brentford B as a useful lesson.

Brentford B are no mugs, and their academy programme is very good at churning out good pros. 

Chanse Headman started there; former Bromley loanee goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe was there; Ben Krauhaus is currently on loan to Falkirk; Ashley Hay leads the line at Dundee; Ethan Brierley was on the bench for Huddersfield this past Saturday… The list goes on and on.

The point is that Brentford are not to be taken lightly. Sam Saunders and his team take their craft seriously and will be looking to take a League One scalp. 

It is worth remembering that Brentford don’t have a youth setup. Instead, they take on players released from other academies, alongside unknown foreign gems and emerging non-league talent and mould them into a second string.

This is a B-team that careful scouting has built. If they have a strong night, Bromley are in for a long night. But don’t write the Ravens off. The players in tonight’s starting XI will go out with a point to prove.

 Will anyone turn the manager’s head?

Addai

Ifill Jackson Grant Mendy

Thompson Conteh

Miller Brennan Jones

Cheek