Bromley boss Andy Woodman rages at stoppage-time penalty award

Bromley boss Andy Woodman branded the stoppage-time penalty decision which cost his side victory over Gillingham “horrific”.

Max Clark’s contentious spot-kick eight minutes into added time earned Gillingham a 2-2 draw as they battled back from two goals down, Josh Andrews’ header starting the fightback following early efforts from Nicke Kabamba and Michael Cheek.

The penalty was awarded when Garath McCleary slipped and fell into Grant Smith, but the goalkeeper was adjudged to have brought the midfielder down.

Woodman said: “The penalty decision was poor, but we should have put the game to bed before that decision becomes a factor.

“That’s the focus and that’s what we have to get better at.

“There was bad defending before the decision, but even then it was a foul on Grant. It was a horrific decision and an easy one to see. I’m so frustrated.

“All that said, as much as we are hurting, we are still unbeaten.”

Bromley came flying out of the traps with two goals inside the opening 12 minutes.

Kabamba swivelled and shot home from the edge of the box after receiving Cheek’s knockdown before Cheek headed home Idris Odutayo’s cross.

It should have been 3-0 midway through the half, but Glenn Morris denied Kabamba and Robbie Mckenzie headed Cheek’s rebound off the line.

Andrews missed a golden chance to pull a goal back but could not beat Smith.

Smith had to be at his best to keep out Elliott Nevitt’s header, but Andrews headed in a long throw to halve the deficit early in the second half.

Cheek was then denied by a post before the penalty award provided the game’s major talking point.

Woodman added: “I thought first half we were excellent, second half we lost control and didn’t show the composure we needed to. Gillingham threw the kitchen skin at us and we didn’t cope with it.”

Gareth Ainsworth hailed Gillingham’s “unbelievable courage” to fight back, maintaining their unbeaten start to the season and staying top of League Two.

He said: “The first 20 minutes we were unrecognisable, we got sucked into a battle and lost.

“But after that we got the ball down well, played some real good stuff. We have an array of players that can play and they showed that in the second half.

“It was brilliant to see us come back in the game. We showed unbelievable courage and togetherness to get back into the game. I felt once we settled we were the better team.

“I’ve heard it was a dubious penalty, but we’ll take it. We’ve had those go against us before.

“The result speaks volumes about what we’ve got. My squad have bought into everything I’m trying to do.”