Bromley made a very disappointing start to the new year with a poor performance against their local rivals and fellow strugglers Sutton.

For as good as Saturday’s display at Tonbridge was this was bad, the visitors started on top and went close through Harry Ottaway and Harry Beautyman.

The Ravens were lethargic for the first half an hour before they finally mustered a response with Joe Piggott and Aaron Rhule looking lively, but just as they got into things Bromley fell behind to a freak goal.

Joe Welch was walking to the edge of the box with the ball in his hand when he dropped it and it rolled to Beautyman who squared the ball to Marvin Williams who converted into an empty net.

Mike Jones went close for Mark Goldberg’s men soon after, but they had to go in at the break behind.

The second half saw Bromley switch to 4-4-2, but before it could even get going Sutton were 2-0 up when Beautyman was given space in the box to turn and shoot past Welch.

Rhule then missed a great opportunity to pull one back soon after scuffing his shot wide when one on one before Goldberg made two more changes, putting four strikers on the pitch.

Initially it sparked a positive response with Pierre Joseph-Dubois having a header well saved, Louie Theophanous having another effort saved by Kevin Scriven and Piggott firing wide, but the momentum halted and Sutton comfortably saw the game out with only one late Danny Waldren saved effort causing them any problems.

This result now sees Bromley slip back into the relegation zone and face a massive uphill task to escape the drop for the second season running with baffling formations and tactics not helping a seemingly under motivated squad.

Bromley: Welch, Patterson, Ming, Harwood, Waldren, Fusieni, Taiwo (Theophanous 45), Jones (Dubois 51), Finn, Rhule (Buchanan 51), Piggott.

Subs not used: Orome, Malcolm.

Sutton: Scriven, Boateng, Rents, Stuart, Downer, Old, Riviere, Kavanagh (Griffiths), Williams, Beautyman (Dundas), Ottaway (Gwillim).

Subs not used: Telfer, Shaw.

Match Rating: 2/5

Star Man: Marvin Williams (Sutton)

Referee: Mr S Butler

Att: 556

Picture supplied by Ed Boyden. To see more of Ed’s photos visit www.edboydenphotos.co.uk