Bromley moved to within four points of the play off places with a battling defensive display against promotion chasing Doncaster Rovers at Hayes Lane on Tuesday night, thanks to an early goal from Deji Elerewe and another superb display from keeper Grant Smith.
Andy Woodman’s side went into the game unchanged from the win at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday and things got off to a lively start with Rovers striker Rob Street forcing a save from Smith.
After ten minutes it was Bromley who took the lead though, a recycled free kick came out to Brooklyn Ilunga on the left and he sent in a perfect cross for Elerewe to meet the the ball with a side footed volley and direct it past Teddy Sharman-Lowe into the net for 1-0.
Ilunga went close himself soon after forcing a save from former Bromley loanee Sharman-Lowe, before the visitors started to press. Elerewe and Byron Webster putting their bodies on the line to make vital blocks on the edge of the area as Doncaster pushed forward, Street forcing a save from Smith from close range and Joseph Olowu blasting over.
The second half saw an open start, the impressive Luke Molyneux having a shot saved by Smith, before on a rare break up field Carl Jenkinson latched on to a Michael Cheek pass and had a short saved by Sharman-Lowe at is near post.
After a ragged spell of play Doncaster went close again again when Molyneux hit the top of the bar with a free kick from 20 yards out.
Jordan Gibson was next to go close for Grant McCann’s side as Bromley withstood a frantic spell of pressure. Billy Sharp came on to add to Doncaster’s attacking options and Street forced another save from Smith soon after.
On a break out of defence Cameron Congreve crossed for Ben Thompson who drove the ball over the bar from the edge of the area. From then on it was almost constant pressure from Rovers, cheered only by nearly 500 loud visiting fans, Sharp setting up Joe Sbarra who was denied by Smith and then Gibson saw his low drive at the near post saved by Smith low down to his left.
Molyneux then tried a dinked effort from the left, which was brilliantly tipped over by Smith from under the bar. Smith went down after taking a free kick and had to receive treatment, before picking himself up and marshalling his defence again.
Street headed over a Molyneux cross and Tom Anderson had a header from a corner saved. In the ten minutes of added on time Sharp drilled a ball across goal that went wide of the far post before Bromley almost made it two when Nicke Kabamba blocked a clearance just outside the area, but Sharman-Lowe just scrambled back to stop the ball going in.
Doncaster pressed once more, Ethan Ennis blasted over, Sharp had a shot deflected wide for a corner and after a series of corners Molyneux drove the ball wide.
Somehow Bromley held out and secured the double over Doncaster Rovers with another 1-0 victory. This was a display of defensive resilliance from the whole side, which had become the trademark of the team under Andy Woodman.
Bromley: Smith, Jenkinson, Elerewe (Sowunmi 65), Webster, Mayor, Whitely, Arthurs, Congreve, Thompson, Ilunga (Paul-Lavally 71), Cheek (Kabamba 91).
Subs Not Used: Dennis, Grant, Ifill, Long.
Doncaster: Sharman-Lowe, Maxwell (Ironside 71), McGrath (Anderson 56), Olowu (Ennis 95), Sterry (Sharp 71), Broadbent, Bailey, Gibson, Clifton (Sbarra 45), Molyneux, Street.
Subs Not Used: Crew, Lawlor.
Goal – Elerewe 10mins.
HT 1-0 FT 1-0
Referee: Bobby Madley
Att: 2,433