Bromley solidified their place at the top of League Two with a hard-fought victory over fellow promotion challengers Swindon Town at a sold-out Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon thanks to second half goals from Ashley Charles & Nickie Kabamba.
Andy Woodman was forced into two changes from last week’s team, with Marcis Ifill injured, and Deji Elerewe rumoured to be off to Lincoln City imminently. The match got off to a positive start for The Ravens with Omar Sowunmi having a header saved from a corner by Connor Ripley and the Town keeper then denied Corey Whitely at his near post.
Swindon then came into things from there and they took the lead after nine minutes when a long ball up field by James Ball found Aaron Drinan on the right who squared the ball for Fletcher Homan to convert from close range and put the visitors in front, with the home side appealing for a foul on Michael Cheek in the build-up.
From there it was Ian Holloway’s side who dominated the half, beating Bromley in the physical battle and forcing them into copious turnovers in possession. After a slip by Sowunmi, Ollie Palmer played in Drinan, but Grant Smith got down to save at his near post. Ball then had a header saved from a corner and the Bromley keeper then made another great stop to deny Holman after a mistake by Kyle Cameron let Palmer in down the right.
After a Cameron cross had been headed back towards goal by Sowunmi, Jude Arthur saw his effort blocked by Ripley on a rare attack by The Ravens. The final chance of the half fell to Swindon though, but Smith once again made another great save from Holman from close range to keep his side in the game at the break.
The second half saw Bromley come out looking like a different team and they were level after only 35 seconds when Lakyle Samuel crossed from the right for Charles to volley home and make it all square.
Ben Krauhaus had a shot saved by Ripley as The Ravens stepped up their intensity, but The Robins also went close when Palmer’s volley from 25 yards was deflected over. Bromley continued to have the better of things though, Michael Cheek played in Whitely who saw his effort go wide from a tight angle when looking well placed.
After a quiet spell with both teams making changes, it was Bromley who came up with the vital breakthrough late on, when Idris Odutayo crossed deep from the left and sub Nickie Kabamba rose high on the six-yard box to head past Ripley and win the three points for the home team.
The Ravens held out for the eight minutes of injury time and kept their six-point lead at the top of the table ahead of their next home game on Tuesday night when they entertain Crewe Alexandra.
Bromley: Smith, Samuel, Cameron, Sowunmi, Odutayo, Charles, Arthurs (Hondermarck 80), Krauhaus (Thompson 80), Whitely (Ilunga 84), Pinnock (Ajayi 88), Cheek (Kabamba 88). Subs Not Used: Jenkinson, Long.
Swindon: Ripley, Wilson-Brown, Tafazolli, Wright (McGregor 73), Kilkenny, Nichols (Middlemas74), Borland (Snowdon 94), Holman (Olakigbe 73), Palmer, Drinan. Subs Not Used: Kirkman, Oldaker, Ward.
Goals: BFC – Charles 46, Kabamba 90mins. STFC – Holman 9mins
Att: 5,505
HT 0-1 FT 2-1
Referee: Mr James Oldham