Despite going one down inside two minutes Bromley came back to secure their place in the FA Trophy semi final with a superb display at home to Solihull Moors at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon.
Solihull started the game on the front foot and took the lead almost immediately when James Clarke broke down the right and after Corey Whitely slipped he crossed for Callum Maycock to convert from close range.
Bromley rallied from there and started to press with Omar Sowunmi having a header blocked and Luke Coulson shooting just wide.
With The Ravens continuing to push forward they drew level on 14 minutes when Whitely crossed for Jude Arthurs whose shot was saved by Ryan Boot, but the young midfielder squared the rebound to Michel Cheek who made no mistake from six yards out to make it 1-1.
Boot made a brave save at the feet of Sowunmi following a Billy Bingham corner and Chris Bush headed another over. Jamey Osbourne had a shot saved by Ellery Ballacombe at the other end and Joe Sbarra fired wide from range, but Bromley went on to control the half pressing Moors from the front as they tried to play out from the back in a marked contrast to Bromley’s direct style.
Coulson set up Cheek who hit the post and the lively debutant Ali Al-Hamadi saw his shot from the rebound saved by Boot. The Ravens had a series of corners going into the break, but couldn’t find a way through.
The second half saw Bromley come out looking to be positive again, Couslon set up Arthurs who shot over, while Sowunmi made a great saving tackle to deny Andrew Dallas on a break for Solihull.
The Ravens gained the vital advantage when they took the lead after 52 minutes, Arthurs playing in Cheek who coolly slotted the ball home for 2-1.
Arthurs went close again and Al-Hamadi shot wide after a strong run into the box, before Whitely curled a chance just over from out wide. Harry Boyes drove a chance wide for the visitors as the game became more stretched after the hour mark and Coulson also went close for Bromley on a quick break up field.
A superb long pass from Bush found Al-Hamadi who broke clear before unfortunately scuffing his chance well wide. Sbarra had a shot saved by Balacaombe in the home goal, but Bromley’s back three were solid all afternoon and held up well in the battle with sub Kyle Hudlin who came on at the break to give Moors a physical presence up front.
James Alabi came on with 11 minutes to play and he provided more strength up front, holding the ball up and then adding to the score sheet when he latched on to a clearance out of defence and raced from his own half before firing past Boot to make it 3-1.
The visitors’ frustration spilled over late on when Boyes was booked for an awful challenge on Coulson on the wing, but in injury time there was one final chance at either end, Alabi setting up Cheek whose shot from a tight angle was saved by Boot and then Boyes headed wide from a Sbarra cross as Solihull looked to pull one back, but The Ravens saw the game out to inflict Solihull’s first defeat in 12 games.
The win sees Bromley book a place in the semi final on 2 April, but before that Andy Woodman’s team have a busy National League schedule starting with a trip to Halifax Town on Tuesday night.
Bromley: Balacombe, Bush (Cawley 87), Webster, Sowunmi (Partington 61), Whitely, Bingham, Arthurs, Coulson, Cheek, Al Hamadi (Alabi 81).
Subs Not Used: Sablier, Bloomfield, Alexander, Cousins.
Solihull: Boot, Clarke, Howe, Gudger, Sbarra, Maycock (Rooney 81), Osbourne, Barnett, Boyes, Dallas, Ellis (Hudlin 45).
Subs Not Used: Allsopp, Cranston, Storer, McNally, Newton.
HT 1-1 FT 3-1
Goals: Moors – Maycock 2mins. BFC – Cheek 14 & 52mins, Alabi 86mins.
Att: 1,965
Ref: Mr Sam Allison
Picture supplied by Ed Boyden Photos.