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CAFC vs Bromley XI – Preview

Carshalton Athletic welcome a Bromley XI to Colston Avenue on Saturday for a pre-season friendly.

Robins Review

We kicked off our pre-season schedule on Saturday with a convincing 3-2 victory away at Step 4 Whyteleafe. It was a good, competitive game for large parts, and while Leafe gave a decent account of themselves, the difference in quality was clear, especially in the first hour. We moved the ball well, created several meaningful chances, and were good value for our three goals.

David Smith and Bryan Ifeanyi both netted, but it was Fabio Saraiva who stole the headlines with a sensational free kick, curling it beautifully into the keeper’s top left corner.

Midway through the second half, with us leading 3-0, we made wholesale changes. Peter Adeniyi brought off a number of first-teamers and gave our academy lads some valuable minutes. The hosts took advantage of the shift in tempo, scoring two quick goals to bring it back to 3-2. But credit to the younger players who quickly adjusted to the pace of the match. The final stages were evenly contested, and it was a useful test all round.

Looking ahead, our scheduled midweek game against Sutton Common Rovers has been pushed back a week, so next up it’s Bromley on our new state of the art 3G pitch!

Bromley XI

Carshalton Athletic welcome a Bromley XI to Colston Avenue this Saturday in our latest pre-season outing. While it won’t be Andy Woodman’s full first-team squad making the trip, the Robins can still expect a competitive test from a side representing a club coming off a historic season.

Bromley recently wrapped up their first-ever EFL campaign in League Two, finishing an impressive 11th with 66 points. The Ravens won 17, drew 15 and lost 14 in what proved to be a solid debut season at this level, having secured their promotion via the National League play-offs just months prior.

Their promotion was sealed in dramatic fashion under the Wembley arch, edging out Solihull Moors in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in regulation and extra time. Michael Cheek bagged a brace that day, and captain Byron Webster delivered the decisive spot-kick to send the club into the Football League for the first time in its 132-year history.

Cheek’s exploits didn’t stop there—he went on to net 23 goals across the 2024–25 campaign, earning him the League Two Player of the Season award. The 33-year-old also topped the assist charts for Bromley, highlighting his all-around influence. But the Ravens are no one-man team, with midfielders Jude Arthurs and Ben Thompson forming a dependable engine room, combining for over 6,400 minutes of action.

While Saturday’s visitors will not include the full strength of Bromley’s League Two squad, expect a mix of promising academy talent and fringe first-teamers. The line-up could feature familiar faces to Robins fans, such as Nathan Paul Lavaly and Soul Kader, both of whom sported red and white last season.

The clash offers a valuable opportunity to test ourselves against players from a club now firmly established in the EFL pyramid and still very much on the rise.

Team news

Carshalton Athletic

Manager Peter Adeniyi fielded a strong side in Saturday’s fixture against Whyteleafe, with the majority of the starting XI made up of first-team regulars. Several promising academy players were also handed valuable minutes, and a similar blend of experience and youth is expected again this weekend.

Bromley FC

The match is set to feature a “Bromley XI,” which will likely consist predominantly of the club’s U23 squad. Expect a mix of talented players from across the academy, alongside a few senior squad members looking to build fitness or stake a claim for first-team involvement.

Pre-Match Analysis

With the senior squad in pre-season rotation and a packed schedule ahead, there’s a strong likelihood that Bromley will field a side made up largely of youth prospects. That brings the spotlight onto their U23s – and if recent performances are anything to go by, the young Ravens are more than capable of making an impression.

Interestingly, Bromley’s U23s recently clinched the Suburban Football League Premier Division title, finishing with an impressive 43 points. They not only topped the table but did so in dominant fashion, scoring 59 goals and conceding just 20 – both the best records in the division.

The young side recorded emphatic wins, including a 7-1 demolition of Met Police and an 8-0 thrashing of Cobham U23s, showcasing their attacking flair and defensive solidity. Across the campaign, they won 14 matches, drew once, and suffered just a single defeat, underlining their consistency and competitiveness.

If Bromley choose to field a side built around this group, the opposition can expect youthful energy, confidence, and a well-drilled unit that knows how to win.

Key Player: Nathan Paul-Lavaly

When Nathan Paul-Lavaly arrived at Colston Avenue on a one-month loan from Bromley back in January, few could have predicted the impact the young full-back would have. At just 18, Paul-Lavaly arrived with little fanfare, but left as a fan favourite – his talent unmistakable and his potential undeniable.

A dynamic and modern full-back, Paul-Lavaly combines explosive pace with raw power, a dangerous delivery from wide areas, and a sharp eye for goal. His performances during his short spell at Carshalton captured the attention of supporters and coaches alike, marking him out as a player destined for the professional stage, and he’s already started delivering on that promise.

His time with the Robins included two standout goals that showcased both his attacking instincts and composure under pressure. Against Abbey Rangers, he was alert to a loose ball after Ghannam’s run was halted, racing onto it on the far side to lash home with precision. Then came a dramatic winner versus Hastings, where he capped off a flowing team move, timing his run perfectly to meet Bradford’s layoff before rifling the ball into the far corner.

Since returning to Bromley, Paul-Lavaly has gone on to make his professional debut in the EFL, featuring off the bench in several matches at the back end of the season. What’s more, he has put pen to paper on a professional deal and combined with Kader in a recent pre-season match with Spurs, which the club won 5-2.

Gaffer – Andy Woodman

Andy Woodman has been at the helm of Bromley since March 2021, bringing a wealth of experience both as a former player and as a highly respected coach. His impact at Hayes Lane was immediate, guiding the Ravens into the National League play-offs just weeks after his arrival, a feat that earned him the Manager of the Month award for May 2021.

Before stepping into management with Bromley, Woodman held the role of Head of Goalkeeping at Premier League side Arsenal, following previous coaching stints alongside long-time friend Alan Pardew at clubs including Newcastle United, Crystal Palace and West Ham.

Under his leadership, Bromley have grown into one of the National League’s most consistent sides, culminating in their historic promotion to the EFL in 2024. Now competing in League Two for the first time in their 132-year history, the Ravens have adapted well to life in the fourth tier.

So far this season, Woodman has guided his side into the top half of the table—sitting 10th with a record of 12 wins, 12 draws and 10 defeats. That equates to a solid 35% win rate in their debut Football League campaign.

Since taking charge, Woodman has overseen 212 games in all competitions, winning 92 of them. His steady hand and tactical know-how have helped establish Bromley as a serious force, and his influence continues to drive the club forward in this new era.

Match Details

Date: Saturday, 12 July 2025  Venue: Colston Avenue. Kickoff: 3:00 pm. Admission: Adults (£6), Concessions (£5), Children (£3)            
Tickets: Buy Tickets Here