Bromley and Tranmere Rovers shared the points in a dramatic League Two match played out in extremely windy conditions at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon, which saw two red cards and a controversial penalty, which was contributed to, in no small way, by Referee James Oldham’s performance.

After last week’s loss at Swindon, Andy Woodman made several changes to his starting line up with Sam Long taking over in goal and Byron Webster returning to the centre of defence and Lakyle Samuel coming in at right wing back. 

With the fierce windy blowing across the pitch the game got of to a scrappy start with both sides unable to keep it on the pitch as the ball going into the newly opened East Terrace on several occasions.

The Ravens settled quicker though and the opening goal came after a good spell, with Mitchell Pinnock sending in a dangerous corner and Kyle Cameron heading home to make it 1-0 on 16 minutes.

Soon after Pinnock and Nike Kabamba combined to set up Jude Arthurs whose sweetly struck volley from the edge of the area was brilliantly saved by veteran keeper Joe Murphy. Cameron put another effort just over, before Tranmere came back into things.

Omari Patrick curled a shot just wide and they drew level on 27 minutes when a hotly contested throw in decision went their way and Cameron Norman crossed for Nathan Smith who scored with a spectacular bicycle kick from six yards out to equalise.

In the arguments after the goal Bromley manager Andy Woodman was booked and then shown a straight red for his continued protests, marching across the pitch after his dismissal, still shouting at the Ref.

The controversial calls continued at either end, Byron Webster was awarded a free kick after hauling Josh Davison to the ground and then when Kabamba was pulled back challenging for a long ball, Referee Oldham waved play on.

Bromley took the lead again on 37 minutes when a corner from Lakyle Samuel was nudged home by Kabamba from close range to restore the home side’s lead, much to the disgust of the away bench who claimed a foul on Murphy.

There was one more flash point before the break, when Davison was only booked for a clear elbow on Webster on the half way line. 

The second half carried on in the same vein and The Ravens were awarded a bizarre penalty on 48 minutes when Patrick blasted a clearance into Norman  from close range and the Referee awarded a penalty for hand ball.

Michael Cheek tucked the spot kick away and it was 3-1 to Bromley. The two goal lead lasted less than a minute though as Tranmere broke up field and after Sam Long parried a cross it fell to Patrick who coolly controlled the ball and placed hirs shot into the net past a crowd of players for 3-2.

Sol Solomon then had a deflected effort saved by Long at his near post, but from the Solomon corner, Rovers levelled when Norman headed home at the far post for 3-3.

Bromley rallied again from there, Ashley Charles went close with a free kick and Omar Sowunmi had a header saved by Murphy, but they were reduced to ten men on 70 minutes when Webster dragged Joe Ironside to the ground as he tried to run clear just past the halfway line and Referee Oldham showed the Bromley skipper a red card.

Kabamba missed a great chance to put the ten men in front again when he was thwarted by Murphy one on one and Cameron had a header cleared off the line from a Samuel cross.

Pinnock then saw a free kick just go wide of the far post, while at the other end Nohan Kenneh fired over after more great work from Patrick on the left wing.

Late on Bromley nearly won the game when Jude Arthurs saw his powerful drive tipped over by Murphy and the keeper then saved from Cameron at the far post from the resulting corner to preserve his side’s point. 

A draw was probably a fair result in a frantic game, played in testing conditions, with so many talking points.   

Bromley now travel to Stevenage on Tuesday night for an EFL Trophy match, looking for their first win in six games.  

Bromley: Long, Samuel, Cameron, Webster, Sowunmi, Pinnock (Dinanga 84), Charles, Whitely (Hondermarck 84), Arthurs, Kabamba (Odutayo 74), Cheek. Subs Not Used: Krauhaus, Smith, Thompson, Omolu. 
Tranmere: Murphy, Brough, Turnbull (Joseph 42), Smith, Patrick, Kenneh, Smallwood, Norman, Solomon (Whitaker 79), Davison (Jennings 45), Ironside. Subs Not Used: Barrett, Blacker Finley, Harris.    
Goals: BFC – Cameron 16, Kabamba 37, Cheek 49pen. TRFC – Smith 27, Patrick 50, Norman 60.  
HT 2-1 FT 3-3 
Att: 3,589        
Referee: James Oldham