Bromley stretched their unbeaten run to a club record 21 matches and remained unbeaten at home in over a year in a breathless encounter at a sunny Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon.
A packed crowd were treated to a thrilling encounter as the Ravens maintained their iron grip on their place at the summit of the league.
Woodman brought back Whitely and Charles for this encounter and were buoyed by the surprise defeat by promotion rivals MK Dons earlier in the day. The first clear chance of the half occurred in the 8th minute with Vincent-Young for the U’s exploiting an injury to central defender, Debrah, but his low shot was saved by the onrushing Smith. Debrah was unable to continue and was replaced by Medley.
The Essex team continued to exert pressure and came close in the 15th minute as Anderson’s shot rebounded to Tucker who drove against the post. The Us were passing through Bromley with ease with some crisp passing orchestrated by the industrious Payne. The lively Lisbie had a good chance in the 33rd minute but shot wide to the keeper’s right.
Towards the end of the first half though the Ravens started to gain momentum with the grinding power of Hondermarck and Arthurs marshalled by the busy Charles in midfield. Bromley’s first chance of note fell to Kabamba in the 37th minute from a pinpoint freekick from Pinnock. The striker’s glancing header was tipped over the bar by Macey.
Six minutes later the impressive Charles superbly won possession and released Hondermarck on a powerful run through the middle. Instead of shooting when well-placed he passed wide to Pinnock who won a corner. The resulting corner fell to Charles on the edge of the area who hit the bar with a delicious looping strike.
As a signal of intent Woodman brought on Dinanga for Arthurs at half-time and switched to a more attacking 4-4-2. Bromley survived an early scare in the 52nd minute as Williams charged up the pitch to release Lisbie who seemed to be through only for Ifill to somehow gain ground and muscle the striker wide.
The game was becoming more open and Bromley came close in the 58th minute following another pinpoint Pinnock cross only to see Macey tip a Kabamba shot just over the bar. The Us had several good chances but were thwarted by last ditch blocks by Sowunmi and Odutayo clearing off the line twice when both Williams and Lisbie should have done better.
With the game end to end Woodman had to decide whether to stick or twist and he bravely decided to play his ace in the pack throwing on Ajayi for Whitely in the 63rd minute. Kabamba continued to menace and brought a good low save from Macey in the 70th minute. Cowley made a triple change a minute later and Bromley will have been glad to see Williams and Lisbie withdrawn although neither had played with a cutting edge.
Bromley were in the ascendancy and made their industry pay in the 73rd minute with fine interplay between Ajayi and Hondermarck releasing Pinnock who marauded unopposed across the box to find Kabamba at the back post who blasted gleefully into the net from point blank range to put Bromley in front.
The exciting Ajayi came close in the 75th minute with a shot that hit the bar and he should have scored in injury time following a blistering counterattack firing into the side netting with Macey stranded at the other end of the pitch following a corner.
Fortune favours the brave and Bromley showed tremendous grit and determination to seize the initiative against a tricky opponent. The Ravens seek to extend this amazing run of form away at bottom of the table, Barrow, next Saturday, 28thMarch.
Line ups:
Bromley: Grant, Ifill, Debrah (Medley 10), Sowunmi (C), Odutayo, Charles, Arthurs (Dinanga 45), Hondermarck, Whitely (Ajayi 63), Pinnock, and Kabamba.
Unused subs: Long, Medley, Krauhaus, Ilunga and Evans.
Colchester United: Macey, Iandolo, Tucker, Flanagan (C) (Barbrook 79), Anderson (Edwards 71), Bishop, Payne, Lisbie (Tovide 71), Read (Akachukwu 87), Williams (Goodwin 71) and Vincent-Young.
Unused Subs: Hunt and Terry.
Referee: Ollie Yates
Attendance: 4,722 (with 530 away fans).