Bromley bowed out of the group stage of the EFL Trophy at the hands of division one side Wimbledon, in an entertaining local derby at a drizzly Hayes Lane. 

The Ravens dominated for long periods and were a match for the Dons but perhaps the difference between the leagues showed in the form of the away side making slightly fewer errors and being slightly more clinical in front of goal.

Andy Woodman back in the dugout following suspension, made seven changes from the winning team at Colchester at the weekend, but the team still had a very familiar look to it which is testament to the growing depth of the Bromley squad.

Bromley started well with a zip to their passing and came close in the 7th minute when Odutayo’s whipped cross was narrowly headed wide by Kabamba. 

The Ravens were in control but succumbed to a sucker punch in the 15th minute as Cameron failed to deal with a hopeful high ball and was outmuscled by a determined Hackford who gave Long no chance as he rifled the ball into the net to his left. 

Arthurs came close on the 21st minute with an excellent curling free kick following a dangerous high kick by Smith on the brave Stepien-Iwumene, for which he received a yellow card. 

Bromley were in control and the Krauhaus, Odutayo, Ilunga triangle down the left was proving to be a handful for the Wimbledon defence.

Bromley finally broke through in the 33rd minute from a trademark set piece. Ifill rifled in a looping corner to the back post which was met by Cameron who nodded back across goal for Odutayo to bundle across the line. 

Kabamba nearly gave Bromley the lead in the 45th minute when he robbed Lewis near the corner flag and raced through on goal only for his rasping low shot to be parried away by McDonnell from a tight angle.

In echoes of the first half, Bromley were nearly punished again from a miscue from Webster just two minutes after the break only for Orsi-Dadomo to somehow contrive to blaze over from two yards with the goal at his mercy.

The near miss inspired Bromley to press forward, and Kabamba’s clever long throw released Whitely to go clear on goal and with the goal at his mercy he lost composure and his mishit shot dribbled tamely wide.

Bromley proved profligate in front of goal again as Ifill’s long free kick was headed back into the path of Ilunga who conspired to stab his shot wide from the penalty spot.

The Ravens were dominating the midfield battles and continued to create chances with good efforts from Kabamba and Ilunga.

With Bromley well on top and pressing for the winner Woodman rolled the dice making three changes sending on Dinanga, Tobin (for a first senior appearance) and Umolu in the 64th minute.

Unfortunately, his luck was out and his changes only seemed to disrupt Bromley’s momentum and their game lost fluency. 

Wimbledon produced a moment of quality in the 73rd minute as Asiimwe’s pinpoint cross was well met by substitute Browne to restore Wimbledon’s lead.

Bromley gamely battled, there were some nice touches by Umolu, and a couple of important saving tackles by Cameron but they failed to land any further punches on the Wimbledon goal. 

Bromley entertain Barrow in the league on Saturday at Hayes Lane and will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run at home in the league since April this year.

Line ups:

Bromley: Long, Ifill (89 Sowunmi), Webster, Cameron, Odutayo, Arthurs (62 Tobin), Stepien-Iwumene, Krauhaus, Whiteley (62 Umolu), Ilunga, Kabamba (62 Dinanga).

Unused subs: Porter, Hondermarck and Taylor.

AFC Wimbledon: McDonnell, Lewis (53 Ogundere), Bauer, Harbottle, Asiimwe, Smith, Reeves, Maycock (65 Sasu), Seddon, Orsi-Dadomo (65 Browne), Hackford (86 Foyo).

Unused Subs: Bishop, Hughes and Jennings.

Referee: Paul Howard