Bromley progressed through to the second round of the League Cup with a penalty shoot out win over Championship side Ipswich Town at a sold out Hayes Lane on Tuesday night, thanks in no small part to a superb display in goal from Sam Long.
Andy Woodman made a number of changes to the starting line up with a 5-3-2 formation, including keeper Long who would make the most of his opportunity.
The game got off to a lively start with Marcus Ifull crossing for Deju Elerewe who headed over. At the other end Chiedoze Ogbene fired wide for the visitors who went on to have a strong spell of pressure.
In the twelfth minute both sets of fans applauded the memory of Donal White a supporter of both clubs who sadly recently passed away.
With Town still pressing Omar Sowunmi made a great tackle to deny Ali Al Hamadi Ipswich had further chances with Ashley Young, and Jack Clarke going close, before Connor Chaplin blasted over, but it was Bromley who would take the lead just before the break against the run of play.
A corner from the left was powerfully headed home by Elerewe to put The Ravens in front.
The second half saw Ipswich start brightly and they drew level on 53 minutes when Ogbene broke down the right and he played in Chaplin who saw his shot brilliantly saved by Long, only for Ben Johnson to score from the rebound and make it 1-1.
The game opened up from there, half time sub Michael Cheek played in Marcis Dinanga who had his shot saved by Christian Walton, while for Town, Johnson had a long range shot tipped over by Long before firing over soon after.
Dinanga had a shot blocked after good work by Will Hondermarck, while Jude Arthurs was on hand to thwart George Hirst at the other end just inside the area.
Sowunmi headed a Mitchel Pinnock corner just wide, before Kieran McKenna’s side pressed again late on. Chaplin headed a Johnson cross wide, Sam Szmondics had a shot saved by Long and Al Hamadi turned a deep Johnson cross wide at the far post.
Late in injury time on a rare break up field, Cheek played in Ifill on an over lapping run, but the Bromley wing back fired wide from a tight angle and the game went to penalties.
Long made saves from Hirst and Al Hamadi, which set up Ifill to score the sixth penalty and win the tie for The Ravens.
Bromley now play Fleetwood Town at home in League Two on Saturday afternoon hoping to continue their unbeaten run to the season.
Bromley: Long, Odutayo, Elerewe, Sowunmi, Ifill, Pinnock, Thompson (Hondermarch 45), Arthurs, Krauhaus (Charles 77), Dinanga (Kader 68), Kabamba (Cheek 45).
Subs Not Used: German, Ilunga, Smith, Stepien, Taylor.
Ipswich: Walton, Davis (Johnson 45), Kipre (Greaves 88), Woolfenden, Young, Barbrook (Taylor 71), Humphreys, Clarke (Szmodics 70), Chaplin, Ogbene (Hirst 71), Al Hamadi.
Subs Not Used: Ayinde, Button, O’Shea, Palmer.
Att: 3,100
HT 1-0 FT 1-1 Pens 5-4
Goals: BFC – Elerewe 44 mins. ITFC – Johnson 53mins.
Referee: Matthew Russell