Bromley’s promotion celebrations were put on hold until at least Thursday night, as they lost 2-1 away at ten-man MK Dons on Saturday lunchtime.
Knowing a win would guarantee promotion from League Two, over 1,000 Bromley fans travelled up to Stadium MK hoping to see their side make history and secure to League One football for next season. The Ravens have struggled away from home all campaign in all of their 12.30 kick off matches and in the end a poor start to this game would cost them on the day.
Andy Woodman named an unchanged team from the win at home to Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday, the only change being Ben Thompson coming in for Marcus Dinanga on the bench and they lined up in the usual 4-5-1 formation.
The match got off to the worst possible start for The Ravens when inside the first minute they conceded. A wayward pass from Mitchell Pinnock was intercepted by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and he raced clear of the Bromley defence to slip the ball past Grant Smith low into the far corner of the net.
Bromley then saw Corey Whitely and Omar Sowunmi receive treatment as they struggled to get going and create anything. Ben Wiles hit the post for the home side, Gethin Jones had a shot blocked by Sowunmi and Callum Patterson forced a good save from Smith as The Dons did all the early pressing. Inevitably Milton Keynes doubled their lead on 16 minutes when Patterson found Wiles and after he had played a ball out to Jones, the Dons midfielder evaded the flat-footed Bromley defence to convert the return cross from close range for 2-0.
Patterson then headed over at a corner, before the game was delayed for injuries to Sowunmi and Patterson leading to eight minutes added on time for the first half as it came to a disjointed end.
The second half saw Andy Woodman make four changes and they started by looking more positive, Pinnock having an early effort from range saved by Craig MacGilivray in the home goal. Ashley Charles then went close with a free kick and Ben Thompson headed over a Marcus Ifill cross.
As the game went just past the hour mark, Bromley were handed a numerical advantage when Jon Mellish was sent off for a second yellow card after clashing with Sowunmi following a skirmish after a free kick into the area by Pinnock.
The Ravens seized their chance to press again, and they pulled a goal back on 73 minutes, as a corner was only cleared as far as Ifill who hit an unstoppable effort from 20 yards out that crashed into the net to make it 2-1.
As Bromley pressed for the equaliser MacGilivray made a great double save to deny Nicke Kabamba and Pinnock after a good cross from Zech Medley. With Milton Keynes sitting deeper and deeper, Thomspon sent a shot just over from an Ifill cross and there was a penalty shout for a trip on Ben Krauhaus turned away before Jude Arthurs was next to be denied by the inspired MK Custodian MacGilivray.
As the game ticked into injury time Bromley pressed with a series of corners and they thew on George Evans as an extra striker, but MK Dons held on for the win.
Bromley now face third placed Cambridge Utd at home on Thursday night looking for the win that will seal promotion.
MK Dons – Macgilivray, Ekpiteta, Nelson, Sanders, Kelly (Evans 70), Jones (Tomlinson 85), Wiles, Gilbey, Mellish, Patterson, Mendez-Laing (Collins 65). Subs Not Used: Nemane, Crowley, Hepburn, Trueman.
Bromley: Smith, Ifill, Odutayo (Medley 45), Sowunmi, Cameron, Charles (Evans 90), Pinnock, Hondermarck (Thompson 45), Ajaiyi (Arthurs 45), Whitely (Krauhaus 45) Kabamba. Subs Not Used: Ilunga, Long.
HT 2-0 FT 2-1
Goals: MK – Mendez-Laing 1, Wiles 16mins BFC – Ifill 73mins.
Att: 9,824
Referee: Will Finnie.
Image courtesy of Bromley FC