Bromley kept their hopes of making the National League play offs alive with a stylish and comprehensive win over Solihull Moors at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon.
Lining up 5-3-2 Manager Andy Woodman brought Besart Topalloj back into the starting line up with Billy Bingham dropping to the bench from Tuesday’s win at Maidstone.
From the kick off Bromley made a positive start, playing some nice, quick, passing football and putting Moors under pressure. As the half developed the game took a more physical edge and Solihull picking up a number of yellow cards in the space of a few minutes.
The Ravens first real chance came when Louis Dennis knocked the ball down to Corey Whitely who shot narrowly wide from 20yards out.
Despite showing ten yellow cards through the game Referee Scott Simpson chose not to book Moors keeper Ryan Boot when he pushed Dennis over the perimeter fence as he shepherded the ball out for a goal kick, the Bromley forward fortunately able to continue.
Bromley’s breakthrough finally came on 23 minutes when Topalloj was caught late by James Clarke as he crossed the ball from the left side of area and Mr Simpson awarded The Ravens a penalty.
Michael Cheek powered home the spot kick low and to the right for 1-0, giving Boot no chance. Solihull battled back from going behind with a spell of pressure, Callum Howe seeing his volley from a corner well saved by Reice Charles-Cook, but the home defence as a whole looked very solid.
Late in the half Bromley picked up the tempo again and after pressing the visitors they made it 2-0 when Topalloj played in Whitely who took the ball into the area and beat Boot one on one rolling the ball into the net from ten yards out.
The second half was more of the same from Bromley who kept up the pressure on Moors, Deji Elerewe crossed for Cheek who had an effort saved at the far post, before they did extend their on 55 minutes when Whitely was brought down in the area by Junior Tiensia for a penalty and to compound Solihull’s woes Referee Simpson showed Tiensia a second yellow card and sent him off.
Cheek drove the spot kick straight down the middle for 3-0 and the game was as good as over. From there The Ravens passed the ball around, keeping possession for long spells and taking shots when openings presented themselves, James Vennings and Dennis had shots saved by Boot, while sub Bingham Bingham shot narrowly over the bar from distance.
Another sub Harry Forster then played in Vennings again who was just off target and their constant pressing turned into a fourth goal when Foster picked the ball up on the right and cut into the area, twisting and turning to create space before slotting the ball past Boot for 4-0.
Moors winger Justin Donowa had one fiercely struck effort saved by Charles-Cook late on, but The Ravens had the final chance when Whitely & Dennis combined to set up Fortser whose shot was deflected over off a defender.
This was a very good display from Andy Woodman’s team, who have now won three games in a row and are just three points behind Eastleigh in seventh with six games to play. Bromley are next in action on Good Friday away at fellow play off challengers Barnet before they take on sixth place Boreham Wood at home on Easter Monday.
Bromley: Charles-Cook, Reynolds, Sowunmi (Webster 71), Elerewe, Topalloj, Fisher (Forster 76), Vennings, Whitely, Stirk (Bingham 62), Dennis, Cheek. Subs Not Used: Arthurs, Marriott.
Solihull: Boot, Clarke, Howe, Donowa, Maycock, Gudger, Kelly, Whelan, Stevens (Beck 61), Jones (Roberts 61), Tiensia. Subs Not Used: Wood, Owen. Mills.
Goals: Cheek 23 & 55, Whitely 42, Forster 86
Att: 2,278