Good grief…..

In the world of comic strips, perhaps one of the most famous running jokes was Charlie Brown being constantly duped by Lucy, who insists that, this time, she won’t take away the football as he goes to kick it, leaving him, inevitably, on his arse.

For a third season in a row, Huddersfield Town have taken on the Lucy persona against their supporters, as a brief, promising start to a season first stalls and then collapses.

This time will be different, they promise, only to find ever more embarrassing ways to plummet a demoralised fanbase into despair before September gives way to autumn.

Two consecutive, underwhelming draws had cast a familiar shadow of scepticism over a flatteringly elevated league position, but there was an opportunity to revive fortunes against a smaller club enjoying its first ever season in the third tier, and second ever season in the Football League.

A tight ground, a robust and motivated underdog and full away enclosures had eerie echoes from the past, evoking memories of Tamworth, Kidderminster and Macclesfield, amongst others.

What could possibly go right?

Very little, as it transpired. Despite massive advantages in budget, experience and size, Town fell to an opponent that rattled them at every turn, took their limited chances and twice defended their lead.

They were helped by a now worrying trait of multiple players spurning opportunities with remarkable regularity. For all Bromley’s grit and determination, Harness, Mumba and Taylor had gilt-edged chances, while others could have made better decisions in attack.

The Harness and Mumba misses – the former particularly egregious – preceded a late first-half equaliser and, while damaging, were arguably less consequential than the chances to come.

A lacklustre start created the first setback as, within 10 minutes, the Terriers conceded a corner, breaking the first rule of playing the plucky underdog by gifting them the opportunity to launch set pieces at you.

Bromley’s corner was excellently delivered, begging to be attacked in a zone which creates defensive indecision, though Young may have done better to eliminate the threat.

Instead, League One’s newcomers gleefully took the lead and an afternoon of despair began.

With something to defend, Bromley doggedly stuck to their task though, in truth, rather rode their luck against a clearly superior force just lacking the most important aspect of the game.

Harness and Mumba’s wastefulness prolonged the agony for the visitors before Fletcher met a well-directed Humphreys free kick with a glancing finish to finally open his Huddersfield Town account.

All that was needed now was a second-half performance of sufficient intensity to break their stubborn resistance.

Regrettably, Town failed to deliver despite overwhelming possession, yet had they converted more chances which came their way, the eventual embarrassment would have been avoided.

Taylor, in particular, spurned chances he really should be converting. In his defence, his first chance was all his own work having made an excellent possession steal before outrunning the recovering defenders to get into the box. However, he failed to get a shot away and was eventually smothered.

He also failed to connect with a headed assist six yards out – though he had his back to goal, any decent connection would’ve beaten Bromley’s keeper.

Drury then made substitutions, one of which should have been made at half-time and one which shouldn’t have been made at all.

It was reasonable for Drury to rest Sanches Fernandez for this one. He hasn’t been the same threat away from home and using his pace later in the game was tactically astute. However, Harness really needed to be replaced at half-time, not after an hour.

His other substitution was, however, ludicrous, particularly in light of things said and done with other players who had previously been deemed not ready for competition. However Tovide’s career in Huddersfield turns out, it should not have begun at Bromley.

Unfortunately for the new arrival, a very poor pass gave away possession in a terrible position and caught Town mid-transition, exposing Wallace to Miller who put him on his backside before firing a good finish home.

Perhaps Miller’s lack of celebration against a club which released him following his multiple injury problems reflected the fact that he had just achieved something he never did with Town.

The earlier missed chances now haunted the visitors who were unable to create further opportunities, other than a header by Wallace which failed to trouble the Bromley keeper.

By the end, the away contingent were venting their anger at their expensively assembled representatives succumbing to a damaging and mortifying loss.

Though the result felt a little freakish, as the statistics later suggested, that was no reason to diminish Bromley’s achievement, a historic victory which may prove a springboard as they continue to defy the odds.

For Town, it is a crossroads – will it galvanise a reaction or simply set them on the path to another, unacceptable, mid-table finish?

We shall see.