Andy Woodman eyes tie with ‘big guns’ after dramatic Bromley win at Rochdale

Posted Sunday, November 03, 2024 by PA

Bromley boss Andy Woodman has set his sights on a place in the FA Cup third round after his side’s thrilling 4-3 victory at Rochdale.

Corey Whitely opened the scoring after 19 seconds for the visitors and Michael Cheek doubled the lead on three minutes.

But Sam Beckwith pulled a goal back after 24 minutes and Kyron Gordon levelled seven minutes into the second half.

The script looked written for 39-year-old hitman Ian Henderson when he fired the home side ahead in the 80th minute.

But Bromley substitute Levi Amantchi headed in from close range in the first minute of added time and Whitely scored his second a minute later to secure a second-round place for the first time since 1946.

Bromley finished the game with 10 men as Danny Imray picked up a second yellow card celebrating the winner.

Woodman said: “I’m chuffed we’re in the hat because it’s a big thing for us. I don’t want it to stop here, I want to be in when the big guns come in.

“We were two up and cruising but being 2-0 up can give you a false sense of security. Let’s give them credit, they really took the game to us and nearly took it off us.

“That’s cup football, it’s had everything.

“I’m delighted and relieved for the travelling fans because they must have been buzzing at 2-0 up thinking ‘we’re home and dry’ and then they are thinking ‘what have we come all this way for?’

“But they stayed with us and it made it a great day for Bromley.”

Rochdale boss Jim McNulty said: “Hearts are broken in the dressing room because aside from the first and last few minutes, we climbed a mountain.

“You can’t go two goals down and expect to win any game but we made a real FA Cup tie of it.”