Bromley captain reveals what goalkeeper said to him seconds before taking the coldest penalty of all time
Bromley captain Byron Webster has revealed what his opposition goalkeeper said to him moments before he scored one of the most remarkable penalties of all time in the National League play-off final.
The London-based side defeated Solihull Moors on penalties at Wembley after a 2-2 draw in 120 minutes.
They will play in the EFL for the first time in their history next season, joining Chesterfield as the two sides promoted from the National League.
Bromley goalkeeper Grant Smith was one of the heroes of the shootout, saving two Solihull Moors penalties from Tyrece Shade and Joss Labadie.
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But Ashley Charles' miss for the Ravens meant it was down to Webster, who formerly played for three different Championship sides, to step up and send his side to League Two.
The 37-year-old is no stranger to play-off finals - he was in the Yeovil team that beat Brentford 2-1 to win the League One final in 2013 - and he showed no lack of confidence in stepping up.
Incredibly, Webster was wearing an EFL armband as he walked towards the ball, and smirked at Solihull shot-stopper Nick Hayes before firing the ball past him and into the corner of the net.
Byron Webster tucks away the penalty and Bromley are PROMOTED!! ✅#TheVanarama | @TheVanaramaNL pic.twitter.com/MlYgf7oIXE
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 5, 2024
The former Millwall and Doncaster defender was interviewed by South London Press reporter Edmund Brack after the game - who asked about the moment that saw him smirking at the goalkeeper.
And Webster revealed that the pair did actually exchange words before the penalty kick.
The Bromley skipper said: "He said to me, 'I know where you're going'.
"I thought, 'That's a lie, because I don't even know where I am going!'"
Asked Byron Webster in the mixed zone yesterday about grinning at Solihull keeper Nick Hayes before scoring the winning penalty for Bromley.
— Edmund Brack (@EdmundBrack) May 6, 2024
“He said to me: ‘I know where you’re going.’
“I thought: ‘That’s a lie because I don’t even know where I am going.’#WeAreBromley pic.twitter.com/Mmoo0tmDwY
TNT Sports cameras picked up how Hayes had a water bottle next to his goal, which indicated into which parts of the goal Bromley players had previously scored penalty kicks.
The method worked for the Ipswich loanee as he kept out Charles' penalty - but it wasn't enough for Solihull Moors to earn promotion.
Topics: League Two, Football, Wembley Stadium
Ryan Smart