Andy Woodman was frustrated by his team’s inability to overcome Swindon Town in Bromley’s final match of 2024 – but had words of praise for goalscorer Omar Sowunmi.
Sowunmi gave the Ravens a 69th-minute lead on Sunday at Hayes Lane with a towering header from an Idris Odutayo cross but, just three minutes later, Rosaire Longelo equalised for the Wiltshire outfit.
Corey Whitely went close for Bromley but the visitors came close to grabbing a late winner when Joel Cotterill’s deflected effort from distance bounced just wide. It ended 1-1.
It means there have only been three wins for the Ravens in their 12 home games so far in League Two, but they are comfortably placed just five points adrift of the play-offs in 12th.
They are also now unbeaten in 11 league games ahead of trips to Gillingham on Thursday, Crewe next Sunday and Premier League Newcastle the following week for that mouth-watering FA Cup clash.
Sowumni now has five goals for the season. The 6ft 6in defender, 29, had a season away at Sutton but is now back helping the cause.
“It’s not a case of feeling vindicated about bringing Omar back to the club. I didn’t want him to go in the first place,” Woodman said. “I respected his decision about why he went and I respect his decision even more why he’s come back.
2YPN2TP Bromley manager Andy Woodman ahead of the Emirates FA Cup second round match at The ARMCO Arena, Solihull. Picture date: Sunday December 1, 2024.
“He’s everything that I’m about. He’ll throw himself into everything for me. That’s why I love him at my football club.”
Woodman said of Swindon’s defensive approach: “They came here for a draw and tried to kill the tempo of the game and nullify everything we are about. But credit to them, I’m not actually moaning about it, I’d have done the same on the back of our [recent run].
“We couldn’t get our game going. We needed more tempo about us and to get our full-backs further up the pitch and make runs forward and be a little less ‘safe’. I don’t want a safe team. And we did that second half. We looked better.
“The disappointment for me was their goal. We didn’t defend it great and [for me] it was a handball. He controlled it with his hand and put it in. It’s so blatantly obvious.”