Two Michael Cheek penalties saw Bromley pick up a vital three points with a hard fought 2-1 win over ten man Accrington Stanley at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon, moving them four points clear at the top of League Two.
Andy Woodman made a number of changes for this match going into the game with two up front in a 4-4-2 formation looking to take the game to a depleted Accrington Stanley side.
The game started with Jude Arthurs picking up a yellow card after only 36 seconds for an awful foul on Seamus Conneely, which could have been a red as he caught the Stanley captain high on the shin.
From there Bromley made a positive start to things, Arthurs crossing for Jesse Debrah whose header was tipped over the bar by Ollie Wright in the visitors goal.
The Ravens pressed Stanley with a series of set pieces and high balls into the box, Micthell Pinnock seeing a dangerous corner cleared off the line by Farrend Rawson.
Then came a key moment in the game when Donald Love stamped on Cheek as he lay on the bye line and Referee Humphries showed him a red card after consulting with his assistants.
From then though, it was Stanley who had a strong spell. Paddy Madden had a chip shot saved by Grant Smith, then Devon Matthews shot wide.
Bromley finally rallied from there, Cheek and Nicke Kabamba combining to set up Corey Whitely who saw his shot well saved by Wright. From corners Cheek then headed against the bar and Omar Sowunmi had a header brilliantly saved by Wright.
Wright then had to have lengthy treatment following another corner, but Bromley’s pressure finally paid off right on 45 minutes when Matthews handled a deep cross in the area and The Ravens were awarded a penalty. Following another long delay for treatment to Matthews, Cheek smashed home the spot kick to put Bromley in front.
The action wasn’t done there though, as with the next attack Stanley equalised when Dave Abimbola crossed from the right was flicked home by Madden past a static defence to level up the scored at the break.
The second half saw Woodman make two changes altering the formation to 3-5-2 with Idris Odutayo and Ben Thompson coming on and both made important impacts with Bromley looking very positive again.
Pinnock went close and then set up Thompson who had a shot saved by Wright. With The Ravens pressing they took the lead again on 52 minutes when Odutayo caught Abimbola in possession deep in his own area and as the striker tried to win the ball back he brought Odutayo down for another penalty. Cheek stepped up again and beat Wright with a low driven spot kick into the bottom right corner of the net.
Thompson then hit the post with a free kick and Whitely volleyed just wide, before Accrington fought their way back into the game. Shaun Whalley’s corner seeing Conneely force a save from Smith, but they struggled to really cause Bromley any problems, Anjola Popoola having the only other effort on goal, that saw Smith make a comfortable save late on.
The Ravens controlled things for the final fifteen minutes, passing the ball round well and they saw the game out to secure the win and extend their lead at the top.
Bromley now entertain Oldham Athletic at home on Tuesday night, looking to maintain their lead and the unbeaten home record in the league.
Bromley: Smith, Jenkinson (Thompson 45), Medley (Odutayo 45), Sowunmi, Debrah, Whitely, Pinnock, Arthurs (Hondermarck 66), Charles, Cheek Kabamba.
Subs Not Used: Dinanga, Long, Ilunga, Krauhaus.
Accrington: Wright, Sass, Rawson, Matthews, Heath, Love, Conneely (Hall 77), Whalley (Brown 81), Madden, Abimbola (Popoola 84).
Subs Not Used: Kelly, Martin, Smith, Tunstall.
Goals: BFC – Cheek 45 & 52 pens. ASFC – Madden 45+3mins
HT 1-1 FT 2-1
Att: 4,307
Referee: Andrew Humphries