Bromley boss Mark Goldberg heaped praise on match-winner Adam Birchall as the former Gillingham man’s 92nd minute winner completed a fine comeback against Bishop’s Stortford on Tuesday evening. 

The Ravens had found themselves 2-0 down at the break following goals from Ryan Auger and Sheldon Sellears for The Bishops, who have struggled in the Conference South so far this season.

However, a goal early in the second half from club captain Rob Swaine brought Bromley right back into the match at Hayes Lane, as the skipper headed home from a Louis Dennis corner.

The home side were on level terms as Danny Waldren’s free-kick from the left wing eluded everyone and crept in at the far post in the 75th minute.

And it was Birchall who completed the turnaround, volleying home from the edge of the box in injury time to send the majority of the nearly 300 strong crowd into raptures.

It was only Birchall’s second goal of the season for The Lillywhites, and Goldberg said it was no more than the former Arsenal trainee deserved.

“We’ve been waiting for this all season,” explained the Bromley Manager.

“I’ve felt so sorry for him. He trains so hard, he works so hard.

“He’s such a great character around the place and its so fitting that he’s got the winning goal.

He’d a great player, and a great finisher – he’s just not had the run of luck. 

“Today he showed his class. You can’t knock it, it was a great goal!”

The result sees Bromley remain second in the league table, but they have reduced the gap on leaders Borehamwood to just three points.

The importance of the result was not lost on Goldberg, who said: “That was the key tonight, to take advantage of the fact that we could close the gap and not allow them to go nine points clear at the weekend.”

Unhappy with the way his side performed in the first half, the manager urged them to up their game after the break.

“I was very disturbed in the first half, just with the way that we were second to every ball,” admitted the Bromley chief.

“First balls, seconds balls, we weren’t winning. It was almost like we were playing into their hands.

“They allowed us to mess around with it at the back, we’d hit it long and with no real direction and with no good movement up front.

“We gave them a bit of a talking to at half-time. They knew that we had to pull ourselves back. 

“If we’re going to challenge for the title this year they know that we are going to have to show resistance. We knew that if we could score an early goal in the second half then we’re back in the game.”

Goldberg threw caution to the wind as the game neared its conclusion, playing with four strikers on the pitch for the last 20 minutes and it worked as two goals in that time earned Bromley all three points.

“I’m very fortunate to have two more strikers on the bench, and instead of replacing strikers for strikers, I went a little bit more aggressively,” explained Goldberg.

“There was one goal in it and I felt we could get back in it. 

“In the end we probably could have scored three or four. 

“I think its fair to say in the second half that we did enough to win the game.”

The only sour note for the hosts was central defender Swaine being withdrawn because of injury midway through the second half, although Goldberg admits there was an element of caution around the substitution.

He said: “His groin was tight, but hopefully it’s just precautionary.”

Bromley return to action on Saturday against Ryman League side Leiston in the FA Trophy at Hayes Lane.

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