Top of the League Two table Bromley started 2026 with their sixth consecutive win and remain unbeaten at home as they saw off relegation threatened Newport County with a goal in either half in front of nearly 5,000 fans at Hayes Lane.

Andy Woodman made one change to the starting line up from the win at Crawley Town, with Kyle Cameron coming in at the back for Deji Elerewe, keeping the 4-5-1 shape.

The Ravens got off to an attacking start with Idris Odutayo crossing for Omar Sowunmi who had his header saved by Jordan Wright in the County goal. Newport struggled to get the ball out of their own half, conceding possession to Bromley in midfield when trying to play out from the back. With the home side pressing, Jude Arthurs had a header saved by Wright from another Odutayo cross and Odutayo then had an effort of his own saved.

Sowunmi went close with a header from a Pinnock corner and Corey Whitely was also denied by Wright, before Newport had their first chance when Michael Spellman saw his shot saved by Grant Smith.

Just as the half ticked into added on time Bromley finally broke the deadlock when Pinnock crossed for Swounmi who had a header saved, Arthurs then hit the post from the rebound before Cheek converted from six yards out via a deflection off Courtney Baker-Richardson, breaking the County resistance right on the half.

The second half saw Newport sub Nathaniel Opoku have an early effort saved by Smith, before Bobby Kamwa put in a dangerous cross that landed on the roof of the net. After a quiet spell, Woodman made changes to his midfield, and it was one of those subs who set up the second goal when Brooklyn Ilunga crossed from the right for Nike Kabamba to convert from ten yards out to make it 2-0 on 74 minutes.

Bromley looked comfortable seeing the game out from there until three minutes from time when County pulled a goal back. Kai Whitmore crossing from the left for Anthony Glennon to head the ball back at the far post for Opoku to turn the ball home for 2-1.

Bromley held on from there and picked up the three points that keeps them top ahead of their next home game on Sunday at home to Oldham Athletic.                              

Bromley – Smith, Ifill, Sowunmi, Cameron, Odutayo, Krauhaus (Ilunga 64), Whitely (Thompson 64), Arthurs, Pinnock (Hondermack 65), Cheek (Kabamba 45). Subs Not Used: Long, Elerewe, Samuel.

Newport: Wright, Clarke (Whitmore 75), Baker, Jenkins, Glennon, Antwi (Lloyd 75), Brennan, Spellman, Evans.Kamwa, Baker-Richardson (Opoku 45). Subs Not Used: Alexander-Walker, Shephard, Tzanev, Warner.    

HT 1-0 FT 2-1

Goals: BFC – Cheek 45, Kabamba 74 mins – NCFC  – Opoku 87mins

Att, 4,946

Referee: Ms Kirsty Dowle