Bromley came out on top in this Kent derby against Maidstone thanks to a double striker from JJ Hooper in front of a massive crowd of over 2,500 at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon.
The Ravens started the game on the front foot, pushing The Stones back with early pressure, but the visitors’ defence held out.
There were a couple of frantic scrambles in the box following set pieces, but Stones’ keeper Dion-Curtis Henry was able to pounce on the ball and keep it safe.
The early momentum seemed to have waned, but on the half hour Bromley did find a way through the Maidstone defence when Richard Brindley surged into the box and then crossed the ball back to JJ Hooper who coolly slotted the ball into the corner of the net in a crowded area from ten yards out.
The Ravens finished the half on top, but The Stones did have one chance when Aron Davies put a curling shot across goal, only for it to bounce wide.
The second half saw Bromley start on top again, with a series of corners and set pieces around the Maidstone area that caused problems.
Stones sub Justin Amaluzor did hit a low shot which David Gregory saved, but that was their only real effort on goal of any note. The Ravens continued to press with Frankie Sutherland just off target with a free kick and George Porter setting up Hooper who put a good chance just off target. Maidstone started to come back into things in the last twenty minutes with Elliott Romain firing wide, but Luke Coulson also went close for the home team, having one shot deflected wide and putting another off target after good work by Hooper.
In injury time Maidstone pushed forward, with Bromley sitting deep trying to hold on to their single goal lead, but then right at the death The Ravens broke from defending a set piece and Marc-Anthony Okoye showed skill and composure controlling the ball in the centre circle under pressure and sending a perfect pass through to Hooper who raced clear of The Stones defence and then beat Henry from the edge of the box with a perfectly placed drive low into the far corner of the goal to make it 2-0 and seal the win for Neil Smith’s side.
The win keeps Bromley in twelfth place as they get ready to travel up to Hartlepool next weekend, while Maidstone now look in real trouble in twenty third place, ten points off safety.
Bromley: Gregory, Brindley, Wood, Okoye, Holland (Goodman 45), Porter, Sutherland, Raymond, Coulson (Philpott 90), Bugeil (Higgs 70), Hooper.
Subs Not Used: Nakov, Sarpong-Wiradu.
Maidstone: Henry, De Havalland, Davies, Powell, Wishart, Cassidy, Robinson (Romain 64), Muldoon (Amaluzor 57), Phillips, Donellan, Tajbaksh (Taylor 32).
Subs Not Used: Lewington, Edobor.
Goals: Hooper 30 & 90+mins.
Ref: Mr Lloyd Wood
HT 2-0 FT 2-0
Att: 2,589