Bromley’s wait for a first win in the EFL Trophy continues after their team of squad players and youngsters were comprehensively beaten 4-0 away at League Two’s bottom side Crawley Town.
Andy Woodman named a similar side to the one that had lost to Brentford in the previous EFL Trophy Southern Group H game and both sides lined up 4-4-2.
The game got off to an open start, Bromley looking to make long throws and set pieces count, while Crawley had some good spells of pressure.
The Ravens created the first real chance when Jodie Jones found Nicke Kabamba who flick on for Ben Thompson who fired wide from the edge of the area.
The home team then created some good chances, Adam Jackson blocked a shot from Jennings, while young keeper Rex Porter made saves from Morgan & Adeyemo.
Bromley went close when Ethan Archer was fouled just outside the box and Jones’ free kick was brilliantly tipped away by veteran stopper Mannone.
Crawley then took the initiative taking the lead on 35 minutes when Adeyemo found Morgan and his low cross was turned into his own net by Nathan Patten.
Jennings almost made it two soon after, but Porter made a great save to deny his curling effort down to his left. The final chance of the half fell to The Ravens when Jones latched on to a long ball, but his effort was well saved by Mannone.
Colin Kazim-Richards made five changes to his Crawley team at half time and it had a positive effect as they scored two quick fires goals.
Watson found Duke-McKenna on the left and he cut in before unleashing an unstoppable drive from the edge of the area for 2-0.
The third came soon after when Robertson played in Duke-McKenna who blasted home from ten yards out. Kamara then had a shot cleared off the line by Patten as The Red Devils continues to press and Adeyemo fired just over.
Morgan, Duke-McKenna and Di Biase all had shots saved by Porter. Bromley offered very little apart from a brief spell with twenty minutes to go, when Freddie Cowan had a shot saved by Mannone at his near post and Patten was booked for a heavy challenge on the keeper soon after, which saw tempers flare for a moment.
After a quiet spell, it was the home side who sealed their win when Duke-Mckenna completed his hattrick, firing a thunderous shot home from 20 yards out to make it 4-0.
In injury time Bromley had one chance when Kabamba latched on to a poor back pass from Di Biase, but Mannone denied The Ravens striker to preserve his clean sheet and end a miserable night for the visitors.
Bromley now look to be as good as out of this season EFL Trophy, but they will be more focused on preparation for their League One trip to Mansfield Town on Saturday, hoping to continue on from the win over Huddersfield Town in their last league game.
Crawley: Mannone, Odimayo, Farquharson (Robertson 45), Barker, Richards (Tinsdale 45), Adeyemo, Arthurs (Di Biase 45), Jennings (Duke-McKenna 45), Kamara, Morgan, Orsi (Watson 45).
Subs not Used: Izquierdo, Arganese-McDermott.
Bromley: Porter, Haftom, Jackson, Patten, Mendy (Cowin 61), Archer, Thompson (Hobbs 77), Brenan, Jones (Miller 45), Kabamba, Cheek (Stepien-Iwumene 61).
Subs not Used: Bullas, Burton, Przybyio.
Goals: Patten OG 35, Duke-McKenna 48, 51, 90mins.
HT 1-0 FT 4-0
Referee: Sam Mulhall
Picture supplied by Bromley Football Club.