Bromley moved up to second place in the League Two table with a dramatic second half come back away at Bristol Rovers on Boxing Day having trailed 2-0 at half time.
Andy Woodman made one change to the starting line up from the win over Grimsby Town with Omar Sowunmi coming in for Kyle Cameron at the back, sticking with the 4-5-1 formation.
The game started with the home side looking far more threatening, Deji Elerewe slipping to let in Cavegn who fired wide of the target when one on one with Grant Smith. Forde shot wide soon after, following good work by Sparkes down the left and he then had a shot well saved by Smith at his near post. Rovers looked far better than their league pacing as Bromley failed to get going and gave the ball away on numerous occasions, seemingly struggling on the heavy pitch.
The Ravens first chance came half an hour, when Ben Krauhaus hit the side netting from a low Mitchel Pinnock near post corner. Rovers carried on pressing though and when 1-0 up on 34 minutes when Sparkes cut in from the left and smashed the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
The Gas then had a strong penalty shout turned down when Marcus Ifill impeded Sparkes, but Referee Mills waved the appeals away. Bristol Rovers did double their lead soon after though when Sparkes’ throw was laid off by Conteh into the path of Cavegn who beat Smith at his near post for 2-0. Just before the break Sowunmi made a vital interception to deny Cavegn and keep the score at 2-0.
The second half saw Andy Woodman make two changes with Jude Arthurs and Nike Kabamba coming on and they pushed two up front. With The Ravens looking brighter going forward Ashley Charles set up Kabamba who put his shot across goal from a narrow angle.
The key moment in the match came on 53 minutes when Forde picked up a second yellow card for a poorly times foul on Charles, which saw Rovers reduced to ten men. Sowunmi had a header disallowed for offside as Bromley rallied and after Cavegn had missed another good chance for the home side, The Ravens pulled a goal back when Elerewe found Kabamba who swept the ball home past Southwood for 2-1.
After a strong spell Bromley drew level on 81minutes when a set piece came out to Idris Odutayo who played in Ben Thompson in acres of space and the sub turned to slip the ball under Southwood from 15 yards out. Jude Arthurs had a header saved, Thompson fired wide and Elerewe had an effort saved from a corner, before The Ravens grabbed the winner in the second minute of added on time.
Brooklyn Ilunga found Kabamba in the area, who laid the ball off to Pinnock and his driven cross was turned home by Thompson in the six yad box to win the three points from Bromley.
Bromley now prepare for a trip to Crawley Town on Monday night.
Bristol Rovers: Southwood, Sparkes, Mola, Kilgour (Lockyer 75), Moore, Cotterill (Bilongo 62), Conteh, McEacheran, Thomas (Dewsbury 75), Cavegn, Forde. Subs Not Used: Chang, Negru, Sotiriou, Young.
Bromley: Smith, Ifuil, Elerewe, Sowunmi, Odutayo, Charles, Pinnock, Hondermarck (Arthurs 45), Krauhaus (Thompson 79), Whitely (Kabamba 45), Cheek. Subs Not Used: Cameron, Long, Samuel.
Goals; BRFC – Sparkes 34, Cavegn 40mins. BFC – Kabamba 68, Thompson 81 & 92mins.
HT 2-0 FT 2-3
Referee: Jacob Mills
Att: 8,127
Image courtesy of Bromley FC