Bromley extended their unbeaten run to ten games with a hard fought draw with Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday night at Hayes Lane, but they were close to picking up all three points, only to concede an injury time equaliser right at the end of the game. 

The Ravens started the game looking positive, Corey Whitely sent in a dangerous cross from the right that skimmed the top of the bar and Michael Cheek had a header saved by Ian Lawlor from a Mitchell Pinnock cross.

Bromley pressed Crewe hard for a spell, but it was only after the visitors had put in a couple of dangerous crosses and had seen Josh March hook a chance wide, that the home side took the lead.

Whitely won the ball from Max Sanders 30 yards from goal and took it forward to the edge of the area before driving the ball under Lawlor, putting The Ravens in front on 31 minutes.

The Ravens continued to have the better of things going into the break, but failed to really create any more chances.  

The second half saw Crewe come out looking to be positive and Bromley seem strangely subdued. Alexandra drew level on 54 minutes when Reece Hutchinson crossed from the left and Alex Pond headed home with the defence looking flat footed.

Andy Woodman immediately made two substitutions and the made two more a few minutes later as the visitors continued to press. Hutchinson had a volley deflected wide and Pond put a great chance over from close range following a corner.

Bromley finally sparked back into life just after the hour and after Ben Thompson had driven a fierce effort narrowly over, they went back in front on 70 minutes when three substitutes combined. Brooklyn Ilunga won the ball near his own area and passed it to Will Hondermarck who took the ball forward all the way to the edge of the Crewe area before playing in Thompson who timed his run perfectly to meet the ball and place it past Lawlor to make it 2-1.

A key moment came soon after though, when March knelt on Sowunmi’s chest after a tackle and they both received yellow cards, but Sowunmi had to go off injured a few minutes later, holding his chest.

Kyle Cameron had a header pushed away by Lawlor, before Alexandra went on to dominate the last few minutes. Mickey Demetriou was brought on and played up front as a target man, which Bromley struggled to cope with.

After Thompson had to go off the field following an injury to his neck, Crewe took their opportunity against ten men, a deep cross from Jack Powell found Demetriou at the far post and he headed home to equalise four minutes into the seven added on, to the delight of their fans and bench.

Bromley tried to claw back their lead at the death, but Cameron’s header from a Pinnock corner was well saved by Lawlor and it ended all square.  

Bromley remain six points clear at the top of League Two and now prepare for their local derby away to Gillingham on Saturday, hoping that they can bring in another defensive option prior to the transfer window closing.                                
Bromley: Smith, Odutayo, Sowunmi (Jenkinson 82), Cameron, Samuel, Charles, Pinnock, Krauhaus (Thompson 64), Arthurs (Hondermarck 56), Whitely (Ilunga 55), Cheek (Kabamba 65).

Subs not Used: Ajayi, Long.

Crewe: Lawlor, Hutchinson, Pond, Connolly, Bilington, Sanders, Powell, Agius (Thibaut 81), Holicek (Demetriou 87), O’Reilly (Lunt 97), March.

Subs Not Used: Booth, Finney, Moore, Moult.      

Goals: BFC – Whitely 31, Thompson 70mins CAFC – Pond 54, Demetriou 94mins HT 1-0 FT 2-2 

Att: 3,618 

Referee: Mr Aaron Farmer