Bromley 2-2 Crewe Alex 25-26 Review - Re-evaluate

I'm really not sure what to say about that game. Had I wrote the summary it at half time, it would have been scathing. It would have had a similar feel to it had the game ended on 93 minutes. But it didn't. It ended on 98, 5 minutes after the Alex scored their 2nd equaliser of the game to salvage what at half time looked like the most unlikeliest of points. Here is my review of the Alex's last gasp draw at Bromley:

Context

Maybe a point at a very average looking(on the night) Bromley side isn't something to be celebrating. Given the 2 sides were 4 divisions apart back in 2014-15, it's a sign as much about how the Ravens have risen as much as it is about how the Alex have fallen. But let's put everything into context.

Regardless of how average they looked, Bromley are top of the league by a 6 point margin with 18 games left to go. They are no mugs. They are unbeaten at home in the league since April. Teams like Swindon, Salford and MK Dons have all come and left with nothing. In fact, the Alex are just the 5th team to go there and take anything home, period! They had won 12 of their previous 15 league games and had a 12-1-2 record in that stretch.

Then you factor in the travel, with the Alex making the 209 mile trip to South London on a cold Tuesday night. Maybe you want to disparage this point. But I'm not going to. I think it's a brilliant point.

Big call pays off

It was a big call for Lee Bell to leave Mickey Demetriou on the bench. But it was a welcome realisation that the captain isn't where he was 2 seasons ago physically. He is struggling and he can barely play 1 game a week, let alone 1 every 4 days. It was a risk that looked to have backfired as Bromley's 2 goals both came down the left side of the Alex's defence.

It was then an even bigger call to throw Mickey on upfront for the final few minutes of the game. Doesn't it say everything about Louis Moult that Bell would rather chase a goal with a CB up top than a striker? And doesn't it say everything that Mickey was 10 times more effective in his cameo tonight than Moult has been all season?

But despite drawing some criticism on social media in the immediate aftermath of the sub, it paid off in the biggest way as Demetriou ghosted in at the back stick to nod in the 2nd equaliser of the game to rescue a point for the Alex. Maybe he should start up front every week?

The Pond giveth and the Pond taketh away

Whilst we debate the longest tenured Alex CB, it's been a mixed start to life for their newest CB. Alfie Pond was partially at fault for losing the header for Jatta's goal on Saturday and in truth, he was found wanting twice in defence tonight. Yes, he was hung out to dry by the lack of midfield cover, but he backed off way too much on both Bromley goals, giving both Whitely and Hondermarck/Thompson the freedom of south London to put their shots in. He was signed to improve a struggling back line and on the basis of the first 3 games, he's not done that.

However, he did atone a little bit with a brilliant header to draw the Alex level on 54 minutes. He's shown quite the talent for finding pockets of space in the box. He had their best chance on Saturday and he connected with one tonight, even going close later in the game when Holicek found him with a cut back. If he can cut down on the defensive mistakes and keep being a threat at the other end, he'll be a good addition.

Come from Behind

Do you want to know the last time the Alex scored two equalisers in a single match? It was back in October 2023 against Crawley. It takes a lot to gear yourself up and get an equaliser, especially against a side in the form Bromley are in. To do so and then, just as you are starting to look like pinching a winner, go and concede with 20 minutes to go must have been so deflating.

However, unlike the previous 3 away games, where they could have played until midnight and not scored, they found a way through for a 2nd time after coming close on a few occasions before that. I've questioned this group's resilience in the light of their away struggles and the dropped points at home against struggling teams. But this shows that this team can hang with the big boys. They just badly need some help from either their injured team mates (god forbid) or some fresh faces.

Referee Assessment

Honestly not a lot to say about him. I thought he handled a pretty easy game well, even the flash point between Sowunmi and March.

Management Assessment

Yes, the lack of an attacking game plan in that first half was a concern, but I honestly don't think they can do much else with what they have available.

Player Assessments

Ian Lawlor

He was ok for the most part, but that 1st goal can't go under him like that. If it was Tom Booth letting that in, he's getting pelters. He has to do better there.

Lewis Billington MOTM

A brilliant cross in the Harrogate game, now another brilliant cross tonight. He just needs to show more of that, because he obviously has it in his locker.

James Connolly

Some silly cheap fouls as usual, but I thought he kept Cheek very quiet and didn't do too badly with Kabamba either.

Alfie Pond

Delighted he got his first goal in pro football, but the 2 defensive mistakes are a concern. That being said, putting him on his weaker side over the more experienced Connolly feels unfair on him.

Reece Hutchinson

Lively in the attack and he got another assist on the delivery for Pond, which was inch perfect. When O'Reilly is marked out of the game and they can't get Holicek/Agius involved, they need him and Billington to step up and they both did.

Max Sanders

Yes, he needs a shout for the moment when he lost the ball for Bromley's opener, but he has to do better in that moment and protect the ball better. He improved after that, but he's still not quite at the level he was a few weeks ago.

Jack Powell

Honestly not a bad display, even if Bromley's lack of press helped. Kept things ticking along, but he couldn't find a way to influence the game.

Tommi O'Reilly

Jaded and well marked by Odutayo. His team mates helped him out, but he looked tired. He badly needs a game or two on the bench.

Matus Holicek

Lively, but we are back to having questions about his lack of end product. Yes, he's still not fully match fit, but 1 goal and 0 assists all season isn't ideal. They need more goal threat from him.

Calum Agius

The same goes for Agius, especially on the road where he's struggling to even get a kick for most of games at the moment. 38 touches in 81 minutes isn't great. That being said the plan to get him the ball was non-existent at times.

Josh March

Asking him to get into physical battles against players 4 or 5 inches bigger than him is just silly. He's at his best when this team is on the front foot. He improved in the 2nd half, especially towards the end. Him getting into a shoving match with Sowunmi was also entertaining.

Subs:

Adrien Thibaut

Ran around a bit, but as usual he couldn't affect things, although he did see a shot blocked late on.

Mickey Demetriou

What a cameo. In 10 minutes of game time, he managed the joint most shots with 3. What a sub he turned out to be.

Owen Lunt

Came on for 2 minutes to try and shore up the midfield. Barely worth getting his boots dirty.

Overall Verdict

The play-offs still look a long way off. 6 points feels like 16 at this point. But, but, but....if they can find a way to beat Colchester on Saturday and if these final few days of the transfer window can yield a couple of badly needed new faces, then maybe their season isn't dead and buried after all.