Bromley boss always had belief that his players could adapt to League Two football

Andy Woodman insists he has never once lost faith in his players – as their adaptation to league football continues to show signs of progress.

The Ravens had the better of an entertaining 0-0 draw with high-riding Port Vale on Saturday at Hayes Lane and after a wobbly start to their first season in League Two, it’s now eight games without defeat in the league.

It leaves them closer in points to the top seven than the bottom two ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Morecambe.

Yet if there is one man who is not surprised by the improvement – and who denies he is feeling any sense of relief – it is the boss.

“Anyone that knows me knows that I’ve not looked down since I’ve been here and I certainly wasn’t looking down when everyone was getting a little bit nervous about where we were in the table,” Woodman said after Saturday’s game.

“That’s not being blase. You can feel, smell football. If you’ve been around it long enough, you know if you’ve got a team that’s not functioning or you know if you’ve got a group of players that have jacked it in, or they’re not good enough.

“I never felt that once with this group of players – not since I’ve been here.

“Even after the game against Carlisle [a 1-1 draw last month], where everyone walked away from here super-negative, I just felt that we’re allowed to have an off-day every now and again. I won’t allow too many of them but I’ve always been super-positive about this group of players and I think you’ve seen why today.”

Bromley rained in 24 shots to the visitors’ 13 and it was only the heroics of Vale keeper Connor Ripley which kept out three efforts in particular – a Michael Cheek backheel and a header from the striker, before clawing a header off the line at the death.

“If you are a supporter of Bromley, you’ll have been delighted with the effort and commitment and desire that group of players put in,” Woodman said. “The only disappointment was that we just weren’t clinical in those moments.

“But give credit to Port Vale. They’re up there for a reason and that defensive unit of theirs was superb and the goalkeeper was excellent. He’s always been one of my favourite keepers.

“I think he’s a Championship keeper at minimum. He was the difference. He made some big saves today. Some brave saves.”

PICTURE: ALAMY