Andy Woodman challenged his Bromley team to keep their foot on the pedal as they recorded their third consecutive win with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Harrogate.
First-half goals from Michael Cheek and Jude Arthurs were all Bromley needed to seal victory as they climbed up to 10th in League Two, seven points behind seventh-placed Crewe but with a game in hand.
Bromley boss Woodman said: “We’ve played much better than that and lost but despite the performance today that was winning, effective football.
“We weren’t great first half and still went in 2-0 and I would take that all day long. In the second half we were workmanlike and managed the game brilliantly. Harrogate didn’t have a shot on goal in that half.”
He added: “People will say I’m brash but I am not just happy to be here. My side is in it to make the play-offs and I told my players today if they were serious to make the play-offs we had to win today.
“We might not be the biggest club in the league but we have a real, honest group that will make Bromley fans proud.”
The game took time to spring to life and it was Bromley who created the first moment of note when Adam Mayor saw his free-kick cannon back off the crossbar.
At the other end Warren Burrell should have done better but fired over when it seemed easier to hit the target.
Bromley took the lead on the half hour from a familiar source, Cameron Congreve finding space on the left-hand side and his cross was converted by Cheek’s towering header.
Ellis Taylor drew a sharp save out of home keeper Grant Smith just before the interval and Bromley promptly punished Harrogate going down the other end and doubling their lead.
This time Mayor’s cross was headed across goal by Cheek and Arthurs was on hand to nod into an unguarded net.
The second half saw very little by way of goalmouth action as Bromley were happy to see out the game with minimum fuss.
Harrogate made five substitutions as they tried to chase the game but were unable to fashion any noteworthy opportunities as they fell to their 18th league defeat of the season.
Visiting manager Simon Weaver, whose side are seven points above the relegation zone, was frank in his assessment of proceedings.
He said: “We needed to be better today and there is no way to get away from that. Defensively we didn’t deal with clearances well and gave Bromley second chances to get on the ball which is what they thrive on. The main difference between the two sides was the quality they put into the box and the centre forward they have.
He added: “We are in a dogfight and had so many reasons to be on it today. In the last nine games we’ve been through it all so it was a shock to the system to see everything we’ve spoken about and to then to have such a big hiccup.
“Next week we have Accrington Stanley and quite simply the players need to respond and show how much they care.”
