Plenty of Bromley connections in Welling squad as two clubs met last night in pre-season friendly
If it hadn’t been for their shirt colour, some Bromley supporters might have been confused with the number of former Ravens in the Welling United squad on Tuesday night.
Wings manager Mark Goldberg and head coach Hugo Langton have previously worked together at Hayes Lane and seven Welling starters and one substitute have worn the white shirts of the Ravens earlier in their careers.
Ravens manager Neil Smith and players Chris Bush and George Porter have previous experience with Welling.
One of the former Bromley players put Welling ahead with a great lob from wide in the sixth minute as Welling started in lively fashion.
Adam Coombes was then off target from close range after Rob Swaine headed down a corner.
Although Bromley enjoyed some possession they were unable to test Dan Wilks in the Welling goal and Coombes had a long range effort saved as Welling looked dangerous on the counter attack.
After 26 minutes, the hosts drew level. Nathan Green fouled Michael Cheek inches inside the penalty area and Frankie Raymond stepped up to send Dan Wilks the wrong way.
Cheek gave the Welling defence plenty to think about and had a header easily saved by Wilks.
Then Cook led a break and forged his way into the penalty area. He didn’t appear to have been tripped but he went down and was adamant that a penalty should have been awarded.
Wilks made a comfortable save from a Cheek shot before Cook came close to levelling. Anderson picked him out with a great cross-field pass but Cook’s deft chip was just off target.
Many managers make wholesale changes at half time in pre-season friendlies but Bromley only made two, and Welling one, and that was due to an injury to Jay Rich Baghuelou.
Coombes headed wide, under pressure, from another excellent Anderson cross before Bromley went ahead. Raymond’s deep corner found Joe Mizzi and his header went in off a Welling defender giving Wilks no chance.
Chances were few and far between as regular substitutions disrupted the flow of play.
Ravens substitute Korey Henry fired well over before they extended their lead with 18 minutes remaining. A triallist found space on the edge of the penalty area and fired confidently inside the far post.
Henry fired over at the end of a quick break before Welling came close to pulling one back. Triallist Lewis Chambers played a defence-splitting through ball to send Aaron Cosgrove away. Although his shot came back out off the inside of the post it fell to Julien Anau but he fired over.
Ollie Tanner had a late shot for Bromley deflected wide but they were still the matchwinners on the night.
Bromley: Cousins, Kizzi, Trialist A, Higgs, Okoye, Bush, Porter, Raymond, Cheek, Clifton, Hackett-Fairchild. Subs: Trialist B, Holland, Coulson, Dunne, Henry, Ojemen, Ogunmekan, Trialist C, Trialist D, Trialist E, Trialist F, Tanner, Brefo.
Welling United: Wilks, Ming, Anderson, Dymond, Swaine, Rich Baghuelou, Cook, Rooney, Coombes, Goldberg, Green. Subs not used: Beeney, Platt, Johnson, Prestedge, Okuonghae, Rich Baghuelou, Allen, Agyemang, Cosgrove, Anau, Chambers, Bizma, England.
PICTURES BY DAVE BUDDEN