National League Play-Off Semi-Final: Bromley 3-1 Altrincham
Three goals in 15 second-half minutes was enough for Bromley to see of Altrincham and charge into the National League Play-Off Final.
Bromley booked their place at Wembley with a 3-1 win against Altrincham at Hayes Lane.
The visitors took the lead in this National League Play-Off Semi-Final when Regan Linney prodded home but three goals in 15 second half minutes were enough to give Bromley the win.
Both clubs had had tremendous campaigns, Bromley finishing in their highest position ever, giving them a first National League play-off game at home while Alty had finished in their highest position for almost 20 years as they continue a wonderful journey under Phil Parkinson.
Having rested a number of players heading into the end of season games, Andy Woodman returned to a more familiar XI here. Myles Weston and Idris Odutayo got the nod at wing-back while Ben Krauhaus was passed fit to start.
Altrincham have played a similar XI throughout the campaign with 9 of their side playing 32+ 90’s across the 46 league games. Justin Amaluzor and Regan Linney, both of whom had injury issues, and Mitch Hancox, late season cover for the injured Isaac Marriott and suspended George Wilson, joined them here.
Both sides had chances in the first half. Corey Whitely fired straight at Ethan Ross while Regan Linney squeezed an effort that Grant Smith turned wide of the post. Ben Krauhaus fired wide first-time either side of Chris Conn-Clarke breaking into the area but being unable to find Linney.
He did find him just after half hour but unintentionally. Some tidy play led to Alex Newby driving into the left-hand channel and cutting the ball back. Conn-Clarke controlled, set himself and his left foot shot was prodded past Smith by Linney.
Alty were the dominant side at that point and continued to make things happen. Linney fired into the side netting and Conn-Clarke’s good work led to Newby firing an effort on target.
However, the half ended with direct play leading to Michael Cheek being denied by an excellent Lewis Baines block before Louis Dennis forced Ethan Ross into a big save and that continued into the second half when Cheek miskicked wide.
Within six minutes of the restart they were level. Myles Weston appeared to be pulling a blocker job on centre-back Lewis Baines put the ball landed in his direction and he nodded home.
A few minutes a long throw was launched into the box and inexplicably allowed to bounce, allowing the excitable Jude Arthurs to charge into the box and head home.
And by the hour, Weston found Kamarl Grant who played into Arthurs. Grant ran forward, took Newby with him and opened the space for Weston who was teed up by Arthurs to curl first time into the far corner.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Bromley were ahead and with some distance.
It could and should have been four when Whitely nicked possession and fed Cheek once more only for the striker to shoot straight at Ross.
Alty didn’t die without a fight. Newby hit the top of the bar with a free-kick and Conn-Clarke did the same with an indirect free-kick 12 yards from goal after a back pass.
Arthurs fired a warning shot from distance but it remained all Alty as they desperately tried to pull a goal back and give themselves hope. Linney found substitute Matty Kosylo to prod wide and Conn-Clarke thought he was in on goal only Arthurs to make a fantastic block to keep the score at 3-1.
It summed up Bromley’s second half. They had found an extra energy and purpose when they needed it and got over the line. Alty didn’t cope, were punished and had to wave goodbye to their promotion hopes this year.
Lineups
Bromley: Smith; Grant Webster Reynolds; Weston (Kirk 66) Arthurs Charles Odutayo; Krauhaus (Dennis 26) Whitely (Olomola 82); Cheek. Unused: Thomas; Davies.
Altrincham: Ross; Banks Cooper Baines Jones; Osborne Hancox (Kosylo 69); Amaluzor (Mooney 77) Conn-Clarke Newby; Linney. Unused: Gould; Roscoe Angus.
Tactics
As standard, Bromley were 3-4-2-1 while Altrincham played 4-2-3-1.
The visitors had more of the ball so we’ll start with them. Their 4-2-3-1 was pretty fluid and one that allowed them to be patient while looking to find the forward pass into the front four.
While they would set up initially with the back four and midfield two in standard positions and it rarely mattered where they collected possession, they would revert back to their centre-backs and start again, ensuring they were back in shape and able to control possession and the flow of the game.
From that position, they would begin making different moves in order to try and pull Bromley out of shape if possible with Elliot Osborne normally the man dictating things. At times, he would drop between Cooper and Baines to create a three to open out their shape. When they did that, Banks or Jones would either step into midfield alongside Hancox or making a forward run, either overlapping or underlapping to open up space. Or Osborne or Hancox would step forward with the full-backs in their normal positions, leaving just one deep midfield present.
No matter what decision they made, the aim was to draw Bromley on and leave vacated space for Amaluzor, Conn-Clarke and Newby to get involved on the half turn, link with the other three forwards and make things happen quickly now there was space to play in.
They did it excellently first half. They utilised the right-hand side in particular as a route to pull Bromley out of shape and allow Conn-Clarke to make forward runs unchallenged into the area with Reynolds forced to vacate his position. This worked particularly well because Linney wasn’t afraid to drop off or they would have Newby or Osborne floating out of their normal positions to get involved.
Bromley’s attempts to stop Altrincham were playing were to drop into a 5-4-1 shape. Cheek would stay high with Whitely and Krauhaus responsible for Banks and Jones while one of Charles or Arthurs would step onto Hancox at the base of midfield. That left the other responsible for Conn-Clarke. The issue they had was that the rotations would leave the sole defensive midfielder overloaded and Bromley didn’t react quickly enough at times in the first half, stuck in their shape.
The change in the second half wasn’t as tactical and more about doing Plan A better. They were more aggressive in their approach off the ball, which allowed them to win the key battles and stop Alty doing what they wanted to do. When they got ahead, they could step off, sit in a deeper shape and let Alty play knowing they had big numbers in the defensive half of the pitch.
In possession, Bromley were direct and made every pass with a purpose. They shifted from a 3-4-2-1 into more of a lopsided 4-2-3-1 with Grant taking up a right-back position, Odutayo down the left but slightly higher with Weston high and wide on the right. Krauhaus, followed by Dennis, Whitely and Cheek could then come together as a narrow three in order to stick together. In the second half, there was more action from Charles and Arthurs stepping up the pitch and getting on seconds too.
What Bromley did well, perhaps something Barnet struggled to do, was get support into Cheek as the lone striker. That led to either the second centre-back being occupied allowing Cheek to pin a single defender or drag a midfielder out of possession to track the forward run. It wasn’t always Cheek that was found with the initial pass either with Krauhaus, Dennis and Whitely doing their bit to receive the ball and link.
Once the ball stuck up top, the aim was to get it wide. Weston was always available on the right-hand side while Odutayo performed a similar role down the left. They would look for support from the nearest man with the aim being to either play back inside on the edge of the box or deliver to bodies at the back post. To Alty’s credit, they generally defended their box from wide deliveries well.
In the second half, as shown for the third goal, the difference in their open play football was that they got more bodies forward. Arthurs and Charles made more forward runs. Grant was more aggressive off the ball. They asked Alty’s attack to do more defensive work by tracking runners and blocking space and their more attacking approach paid off by earning more set-pieces and, of course, the third goal.
Players
There were two halves of football here to discuss.
First half, their control on the game was fantastic. Cooper and Baines defended their box excellently and showed real composure on the ball while Osborne dictated things and ensured they played their football. I also thought while Newby had a strong half drifting across the line and helping create things.
In the second, Bromley were fantastic. Jude Arthurs summed them up, his tenacity in attacking the ball got them ahead, his forward running and composure set up the third and the late block to deny Conn-Clarke huge.
Weston was important throughout, offering the outball in possession and his experience and quality showed with the first and third goals. I thought Cheek was a willing competitor throughout and Odutayo again showed why he has got the nod in recent times at left-wing-back.
Conclusions
Bromley reach the National League play-off final for the first time in their history as they take on Solihull Moors for a place in the EFL and to become the first newcomers to the Football League since Sutton United in 2021.
It sets up a fascinating final between two sides that want to remain organised, play with a purpose and make the most of their chances. It also gives Bromley the chance to enact revenge for that FA Trophy semi-final loss.
They showed on Sunday that they are well organised but when they turn it on, they are difficult to cope with thanks to the experience and power in their side, not to mention their management of the game.
As for Alty, their season ends after a bonkers 15-minutes in which this 90-minute game was taken away from them.
This will hurt but they shouldn’t look back on this as a missed opportunity but further evidence of their continued growth. A 4th place finish is their best in almost 30 years and their first top half finish since returning to the National League in just their second as a full-time outfit.
The primary concern will be departures. Chris Conn-Clarke is the obvious name but their first-choice starting XI are all between the ages of 22 and 28 while manager Phil Parkinson will be touted for EFL jobs and could take his long-time assistant Neil Sorvel with him.
However, the club are well run. The budget is improving year on year. Their players are mostly in contract for the longer-term, allowing them to plan for the future. Their destiny is in their hands, which is a very good place to be as a growing non-league club.
They’re going to be fine. This is just a bump in the road.