Bromley and Altrincham clash at The Courage Stadium on Sunday afternoon when they battle it out for a place in the National League playoff final.
The hosts earned an automatic place in the playoff semi-finals thanks to a third-place finish in the league, while the visitors were given a bye following the announcement that Gateshead are ineligible to compete.
Match preview
© Reuters
A poor start to this term from Bromley saw them fail to win in any of their first five fixtures, losing the opening two and drawing the following three, but Andy Woodman's side were able to recover well as they embarked on a run of seven wins in eight matches.
That form saw Bromley jump into the playoff places and move into the top three for the first time on matchday 20, where they remained for the rest of the season.
Despite losing the fewest games of any team in the division, falling to defeat on just nine occasions, their 15 draws, the highest of any side within the top nine, prevented them from getting near to champions Chesterfield, who never dropped out of first place after matchday nine.
Bromley were disappointingly handed their ninth loss on the final day of the season as Gateshead, who were barred from the playoffs due to failing to meet the entry criteria for the English Football League, beat them 2-1 thanks to two goals in the final 13 minutes.
They will now face Altrincham in the second of the semi-finals set to take place, with Barnet and Solihull Moors playing the day before, as the Ravens push to reach League Two for the first time in their history.
Bromley got the better of Altrincham over the two meetings during the league season, winning 2-1 thanks to an 87th-minute winner on the road before drawing 2-2 at home after conceding a 93rd-minute equaliser in a game where they limited Altrincham to just three shots.
Unlike Solihull and Halifax Town, who had to battle in a playoff quarter-final to earn their place in this round, Altrincham were given a bye straight into the semi-finals after Gateshead were barred from competing in the playoffs due to the club being unable to secure 10-year security of their stadium, therefore, failing to meet the entry criteria for the English Football League.
Phil Parkinson's men looked as though they had lost their place in the playoffs altogether late on in the season after they went through a run of five successive defeats in February and March, but the Robins recovered well as they went on to win eight of their final 11 matches, placing fourth at the end of the term.
Their fourth-place finish came as a surprise in itself with Altrincham having finished in the bottom half of the table in all their last three seasons in the division, including a 17th-place finish last year.
Parkinson, who has already guided the Robins to promotion from the National League North, now has the chance to lead his team to the English Football League for the first time since they were founded in 1891.
Altrincham have a difficult task ahead of them if they are to even make it into the playoff final as they have to face Bromley, who lost on just four occasions at home this season, while the Robins were at their weakest on the road, winning just eight of their 23 away games.
Team News
© Reuters
Bromley put out a much-changed side for their 2-1 defeat to Gateshead on the last day of the league season, but attacking duo Michael Cheek, who has scored 21 league goals, and Corey Whitely, who has nine goals, are expected to return to the team for this one.
Captain Byron Webster made his 150th appearance for the club in that defeat and is expected to start in the centre of defence for the tie against Altrincham.
As for the visitors, Chris Conn-Clarke is likely to retain his place playing behind the number nine as the attacking midfielder has netted 23 times from that position this season.
Alex Newby netted both of Altrincham's goals in the 2-2 draw between these teams in December, including a fantastic free kick in the 93rd minute that earned his side a crucial point.
Bromley possible starting lineup:
Smith; Weston, Reynolds, Webster, Grant, Odutayo; Krauhaus, Arthurs, Charles, Whitely; Cheek
Altrincham possible starting lineup:
Ross; Banks, Southern-Cooper, Baines, Jones; Osborne, Hancox; Amaluzor, Conn-Clarke, Newby; Linney
We say: Bromley 2-1 Altrincham
The hosts have not lost in this fixture since Altrincham won 3-1 in November 2015, leaving them unbeaten against the Robins in the last nine meetings.
Bromley have scored twice in each of the past three matchups, and we expect that to continue in this one with a 2-1 victory to send them into the playoff final at Wembley.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
