Bromley and Dover battled out a draw in this Kent Derby at Hayes Lane on Tuesday night which gave both sides their first point of the season was just about fair over the game.

Bromley started the brighter and were 1-0 up on 3 minutes when Dan Johnson hit a low drive past Mitch Walker from the edge of the area, to give the left back his first goal for the club.

Lining up 4-4-2 The Ravens looked a more attacking side from the off, but as the half went on Dover began to have good spells of their own. The pressure from the visiting team eventually paid off on 35 minutes when a low cross from the right found Jamie Allen who back heeled the ball home from close range as the home defence stood static.

Dover pressed from there with Mitch Brundle having a well struck shot tipped over by David Gregory and the keeper was also on hand to save a low effort from Josh Passley at his near post.

George Porter went close for Bromley, but Athletic continued to look the more likely late in the half with Bedsente Gomis shooting wide and Allen having a header saved on the line by Gregory.

The second half saw Bromley start well with Omar Bugeil heading wide at the far post, but Dover then had a strong spell of pressure.

Brundle curled an effort just wide, Passley had a shot saved after a strong run into the box and Inh Effiong fired wide after a good passing move. A spell of Dover corners saw Jack Holland clear one off the line, before The Ravens finally battled back into things.

The introduction of Recce Meekums & Junior Uzokwe off the bench gave Bromley more attacking threat and it was Uzokwe who had a header cleared off the line from a corner before Bugeil then headed the next corner just wide.

But just as Bromley looked to be back in the game Dover took the lead on 72 minutes when Jack Connors play a low ball into Kevin Lokko who tapped the ball home from close range in an almost identical fashion to their equaliser.

Brundle was just off target with a free kick soon after and then Neil Smith made his final play introducing Marc-Anthony Okoye and pushing Holland up front.

Okoye went close with a header from a corner almost immediately as The Ravens went with four up front. Kadell Daniel fired wide for Chris Kinnear’s side on the break, but Bromley did the late pressing a they eventually drew level two minutes from time when Uzokwe’s header was handled by Lokko in the box.

Frankie Sutherland drove the spot kick home despite Walker getting a hand to the strike it was too powerful to keep out. The Ravens continued to go forward in injury time, but after a lengthy delay following a scuffle involving most of the players, in the end the game ended all square.

Bromley now entertain league new comers Harrogate Town at home on Saturday.

 

Bromley: Gregory, Adebayo-Rowling, D Johnson, Holland, R Johnson, Sutherland, Raymond, Higgs (Uzokwe 64), Taylor (Meekums 58), Porter (Okoye 78), Bugeil.

Subs Not Used: Huxter, Goodman.

Dover: Mitchell, Passley, Connors, Lokko, Essam, Brundle (Okosieme 88), Allen, Effiong, Nortei, Schmoll, Gomis (Daniel 83).

Subs Not Used: Fazackerley, Smith, Diarra.

Goals; Bromley – D Johnson 3mins, Sutherland 88 pen. Dover – Allen 35, Lokko 72mins.

Referee: Mr C Brook