Bromley progressed through to the fourth round of the FA Trophy with a 1-0 victory over National League South Slough Town at a blustery & sparseley populated Hayes Lane on Saturday, the only goal of the game coming after only 55 seconds.
As promised Andy Woodman named his strongest team available for the match, the only major change being Teddy Sharman-Lowe coming in to replace Grant Smith in goal and there was also a different formation with The Ravens lining up 4-4-2.
With a very low crowd possibly reflecting the full price ticket prices just three weeks before Christmas, Bromley got off to the perfect start when Ryan Jones broke down the left and combined with Louis Dennis, before receiving the ball back and cutting into the area to drill his low shot past Dan Lincoln for 1-0 within the first minute.
Slough responded with a good spell of pressure straight away, Nathan Minhas had a goal ruled out for offside and Johnny Goddard fired over.
With the wind blowing across Hayes Lane it wasn’t a day for long balls, but both teams seemed to fall into the trap of punting it long and seeing the ball go off for a throw on the terrace side of the ground.
The game went from end to end with half chances falling for both sides, Kido Taylor-Hart had a shot saved by Lincoln, while at the other end Matt Lench hit the post with a powerful low shot.
David Ogbonna was the stand out player of the first half, the Slough winger causing Bromley real problems down the right, while Michael Cheek received several nasty knocks whenever he received the ball on the half way line.
As the half went on play became more ragged and agricultural, with wayward passes and both teams losing possession.
Late on The Ravens had a strong spell as Jude Arthurs fired over, before Jones set up Lous Dennis who had an effort saved by Lincoln and then Besart Topalloj fired wide, but the break came with Bromley just leading with the solitary goal.
The second half for the most part was a turgid affair, Slough did start brightly with Lench & Minhas having shots saved by Sharman-Lowe, but their momentum slowed and going into the hour mark the game drift.
Andy Woodman introduced Sam Woods to shore things up in midfield and Olufela Olomola to give Bromley another option up front as they lacked attacking spark.
Olomola and Arthurs combined to set Corey Whitely, but he headed wide diving in at the far post. Going into the final quarter of the match Slough rallied and pressed for an equaliser, they had strong shout for a penalty when Mickel Platt went down in the box under Callum Reynolds challenge and Leon Chambers-Parillon fired over from range.
The Rebels had a series of set pieces with long throws and corners into the box, but The Ravens held out and on a rare break upfield Arthurs was brought down when heading towards the Slough area with Tyrese Dyce probably lucky only to be booked for the foul.
One final spell of pressure from the visitors came to nothing and Bromley came away with the win and a place in the next round.
Bromley now return to NationalLeague action next with a trip to Southend Utd on Saturday.
Bromley: Sharman-Lowe, Jones (Pepple 85), Topalloj Reynolds, Passley, Taylor-Hart (Olomola 76), Krauhaus, Arthurs, Whitely, Dennis (Woods 67), Cheek.
Subs Not Used: Orlowski, Miller, Paul-Lavaly, German.
Slough: Lincoln, Jackman, Dandy (Bala 85), Prosper, Lench, Minhas, Goddard, Eweka, Dyce, Sundire (Chambers-Parillon 65), Ogbonna (Platt 69).
Subs Not Used: North, Hutchinson, Tucker, Davies.
HT 1-0 FT 1-0
Goal: Jones 55secs.
Referee: Gareth Rhodes.
Att: 1,041