A Michael Cheek brace and a Nicke Kabamba finish provided Bromley a comfortable 3-0 win over Cheltenham Town on the final day of the League Two season.
The Ravens beat the odds to secure a top-half finish in 11th place.
Cheltenham Town: Day, Haynes (King 83), Stubbs, Bakare (Power 60) , Jude-Boyd, Backwell (Miller 40), Dieng (Tustin 60), Thomas, Dulson (Taylor 66), Archer, Hay (Willliams 60). Sub not used: Diallo.
Michael Cheek of Bromley scores from the penalty spot during the League 2 match between Bromley and Cheltenham Town at Hayes Lane, Bromley, England on 3rd May 2025. Photo by Edmund Boyden.
SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME
A tentative start from both teams was slowed even further as Ben Thompson and Tommy Backwell clashed heads near the centre circle. It was a grisly collision that left both players down for several minutes. Bromley restarted the game with their free kick, lifting a ball into the area towards Omar Sowunmi, who was tugged down by Sam Stubbs for a Bromley penalty. The outcome was never in doubt, as Michael Cheek smashed it home on the left side. Bromley doubled their advantage ahead of half-time thanks to a chaotic scramble to reach a Cameron Congreve corner, eventually being turned in by Nicke Kabamba.
Bromley struck again early in the second half, as a short corner routine led to a low cross into the area that was latched on to by Cheek. It was a simple finish to make it 25 goals for the campaign and cap his League Two top scorer award off with a brace. Bromley took a step back after their third, using all their substitutes to replace key players with youngsters, including departing loan signings Danny Imray and Cameron Congreve, who both received standing ovations.
TACTICAL APPROACH
Bromley made two changes from their draw at Barrow last Saturday. Jude Arthurs replaced Congreve in midfield while Byron Webster made way for striker Nicke Kabamba in an attack-minded change. Bromley set up in a flat back four out of possession but shifted Imray forward into the wide midfield areas when they had the ball, with Ashley Charles dropping in front of the new back three to form something akin to a 3-1-4-2 shape.
The system worked well as Bromley looked to produce goal threat by working the ball wide and playing in one of any number of inside runners on the counter. In slower build-up situations, the striker and their two nearest midfield players formed neat passing triangles to work their way through opposing lines. When Bromley were under attack from the visitors, however, the narrow back line could really be felt. Cheltenham had far too easy a time finding space from which to drive at Bromley’s defence, and despite Sowunmi’s impressive sweeping performance, it felt like the pressure would tell eventually.
Nicke Kabamba of Bromley scores the second goal during the League 2 match between Bromley and Cheltenham Town at Hayes Lane, Bromley, England on 3rd May 2025. Photo by Edmund Boyden.
STAR MAN
Ashley Charles. Michael Cheek’s brace capped off a standout season that rightfully saw him wrap up the League Two Player of the Season award, but behind his classy goals were the hard yards and composed distribution of Charles. Given the duty of marshalling the area in front of the defense, Charles was absolutely everywhere, bringing down balls before getting his team moving and orchestrating the attack and defence around him. It was a truly excellent performance for a player who has struggled for minutes at times this season.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
The only moan that could easily be applied to what was otherwise a free-flowing and end-to-end affair would be the several instances of play being stopped for extended periods. These were necessary stoppages to ensure players were safe to continue after head collisions, but the amount of times these collisions occurred was concerning. The 12 cumulative minutes of injury time between the first and second halves illustrate this point and that total was, if anything, conservative.
Nicke Kabamba of Bromley celebrate scoring the second goal during the League 2 match between Bromley and Cheltenham Town at Hayes Lane, Bromley, England on 3rd May 2025. Photo by Edmund Boyden.
TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB
Cheek finally sealed his League Two top-scorer honours with a brace, taking his final total in the league to 25 in his debut campaign in the EFL. The award has felt like a foregone conclusion for a while, but the fact it is set in stone will allow Cheek to take a step back and take in his achievement. For a player with as much non-league experience as him, to step up and take League Two by storm is a great advert for National League talent.
Bromley manager Andy Woodman after the League 2 match between Bromley and Cheltenham Town at Hayes Lane, Bromley, England on 3rd May 2025. Photo by Edmund Boyden.
WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY
“We played well, we limited them to not much which is a credit to our back line, and we took our chances.
I am glad we finished the league with a win, it was really important, and a top 12 finish.
“I have got to move forward now, and I have moved forward pretty quickly. I have said to the lads, we have got to go again, we have got to regroup and get ready for next season. When you are watching everyone else jostling for places in the play-offs, that is where we want to be.”
