Bromley suffered stage fright in front of the live BT Sports cameras as they gifted Altrincham three points with two awful defensive errors and some unusually wasteful finishing at a wet Hayes Lane on Saturday lunchtime.
The Ravens started the game brightly with Moses Emmanuel having an early half chance that the visiting defence managed to scramble clear, but once Altrincham settled they also created chances with George Bowerman firing wide.
The first sign of defensive nerves from the home team came when a woefully short back pass from Rob Swaine had to be cleared by Chris Kettings under pressure. It came as no surprise when Alty took the lead on 18 minutes when Ryan Crowther crossed for Damian Reeves to head home, although Crowther did appear to handle the ball before the key pass.
Bromley rallied after going behind with Joe Anderson’s free kick going close before the pressure paid off on 37 minutes when Emmanuel powered into the box before hitting a deflected shot past a wrong footed Tim Deasy despite his best efforts to claw it away.
The Ravens finished the half the stronger when Emmanuel set up Louis Dennis who was denied by a last ditched tackle, Jack Holland had a powerful header saved from a corner and Emmanuel’s powerful left foot drive was again well saved by Deasy.
The second half saw Bromley start well with Emmanuel diverting a long ball narrowly wide, but then they were architects of their own demise when Anthony Cook and Ali Fuseini over played on the edge of their box before gifting the ball to Josh O’Keefe who slotted the ball past Kettings.
A minute later The Ravens were two goals behind when a low cross from Sam Heathcote caught Ugo Udoji flat footed and as the ball ran away from his poor touch Reeves scrambled home the loose ball for 1-3 on 51 minutes.
Bromley again tried to battle back, but this time they lacked the vital fire power required, Ali Fuseini set up Lee Minshull who hit the outside of the post and Emmanuel was denied by Deasy one on one before shooting the rebound wide.
Joe Anderson set up Cook who was denied by the impressive Deasy and Cook went close again soon after but this time he was just off target.
In the end Mark Goldberg’s men didn’t have enough to break down a solid Altrincham defence and their fourth consecutive home defeat will be cause for concern for the fans and management team.
As will the habit of conceding first on a regular basis and over playing in vital areas.
Bromley travel to Whitstable on Tuesday night in the Kent Senior Cup, maybe looking to give one or two players returning from injury a run out before next week’s trip to Macclesfield.
Bromley: Kettings, Udoji (May 60), Anderson, Swaine, Chorley, Cook, Fuseini (Dubois 73), Minshull, Dennis, Emmanuel, Holland.
Subs Not Used: Rodgers, Tumwa, Prestedge.
Altincham: Deasy, Griffin, Moult, O’Keefe, Richman, Leather, Heathcote, Crowther (Swift 90), Sinnott, Bowerman (Clee 70), Reeves (Rankine77).
Subs Not Used: Stouppis, Williams.
Goals: Bromley – Emmanuel 37mins, Alty Reeve 18 & 51, O’Keefe 50mins.
HT 1-1 FT 1-3
Ref: Mr D Rock