Some early food for thought for new Eagles boss as Bromley flex pre-season muscles

Hayes Lane workout. A sunny Saturday friendly saw Bromley get the better of Premier League Palace Picture by Patrick van Ijzendoorn

Friendly

Bromley (0) 3 Abeboyejo 62, 73 (p), Kabamba 86

Crystal Palace (0) 0 

League One-newcomers Bromley have started their season with a flattering 3-0 victory in a friendly against Conference League-winners Crystal Palace. It was a disappointing first proper public showing for the new Eagles-boss Pierre Sage who saw his side missing at least five big chances.

Less than a week after the World Cup-final, a weakened Palace made a short trip to semi-rural Bromley. The members of the squad who have played in North-America were on a well-deserved holiday, and star man Adam Wharton, who missed out on the World Cup, didn’t appear on the team sheet either. The supporters, however, were out in full force after the first friendly, against Swindon Town (5-1) last week, was played behind closed doors.

Most of those in attendance at a packed Hayes Lane seemed to be away fans. As expected the visitors dictated the game, only to be wasteful in front of the excellent Bromley-goalie Shamal George.

Northern-Ireland-international Justin Devenny, who is on Southampton]s radar, shone as Wharton’s understudy. The 21-yard old created a great chance for Jesurun Rak-Sakyi with a beautiful pass, but the forward was denied by George, who would later be picked as man of the match. 

Quietly observing the proceedings, the French head coach Sage could not be happy with the efforts of Matheus Franca who had returned from Vasco da Gama after a loan spell. The young Brazilian played well, but should have scored twice in the first half. At the other end, the only decent chance came after a wayward back pass by Palace-left back Tayo Adaramola. The hydration breaks on this hot afternoon were welcomed by boos from the stands.

Looking for a breakthrough, Page brought on Eddie Nketiah during the interval, along with the 17-year old academy-graduate and Lambeth-youngster Joel Drakes-Thomas. The latter showed how big a talent he is, but should have really scored when Nketiah gave him an unmissable chance after a lovely turn. This lack of sharpness kept The Ravens in this pre-season game, hoping to extend their remarkable home record against the big neighbour.

To his delight, Bromley-boss Andy Woodman, in shorts, saw his brave side take the lead on the hour when substitute Victor Abeboyejo lobbed the Palace-keeper after centre-back Mofe Jemide, for some reason, ducked out a header to let the ball fly through the defence.

Ten minutes later, the Nigerian journeyman converted a penalty after Ethon Archer was fouled in the box and minutes before the end, last season’s top scorer Nicke Kamamba put the icing on the cake.

While Bormley celebrated the 3-0 victory, Page assembled his players for an impromptu post mortem on the pitch. Despite the somewhat humiliating scoreline, he can be happy with the performances of Drakes-Thomas and Nketiah, but the former Lens-manager would have worries about what experienced players like Tayo Adaramola and Cheick Doucoure showed on this lazy afternoon. His World Cup-stars can’t return fast enough.

Ravens: (4-4-2) George (Addai 62) - Headman (Hibbs 78), Woodman (Thompson 78), Sowumni (Patten 78), Mendy (Adeboyejo 46); Pinnock (Paul-Lavaly 78), Bullas (Haftom 78), Conteh (Kabamba 78), Stepien-Iwumene (Ifill 78); Cheek (Cowin 46), Whitely (Archer 62)

Eagles: (5-3-2) Benitez (Whitworth 46); Cardines (Sosa), Canvot (King 46), Walker-Smith (Nketiah 46), Benamar (Jemide 46), Adaramola (Imray 46); Hughes (Ozoh 46), Devenny (Doucoure 46), Franca (Drakes-Thomas 46); Esse (Doucoure 46), Rak-Sakyi (Johnson 46)