Bromley (the Ravens) soared away from Meadow Lane with a valuable point as they resumed their rivalry with Notts County (the Magpies) in the battle for crow family superiority in an entertaining League Two fixture on Saturday afternoon.

Lamenting a lack of leadership in the disappointing home defeat against Colchester the previous week, manager, Andy Woodman, reintroduced the experienced Byron Webster and the terrier-like Jude Arthurs to the starting eleven.

After a slow start the match spluttered into life in the 6th minute as the dangerous Jones looped in a cross from the right that nearly caught out Bromley’s Smith who back peddled furiously to turn the cross onto the crossbar. Plymouth target, Jetta, hovered but was denied as the ball sprang back fortuitously into Smith’s hands.

The Magpies were enjoying plenty of possession but struggled to get in behind the Bromley defence.

A poor touch by Elerewe, however, caused a scare in the 14th minute but Webster was on hand to mop up for a corner. Congreve did well to spring Whiteley on the counter in the 17th minute, but Whitely was outpaced by the defender and could not make the most of the opportunity.

Shortly after, Congreve went down with a head injury and following a lengthy stoppage had to change both his shirt and to the great amusement of the home support, his shorts.Congreve’s hopeful ball into the box in the 28th minute was half-cleared and fell to Odutayo who saw his low 25-yard drive turned around the post.

A short time later, Thompson was cynically tripped preventing a promising break, but no card was given.

When it was Thompson’s turn to commit the same offence a minute later, he was duly booked.County’s main threat was coming through 37-year-old McGoldrick who was enjoying his licence to roam, and his clever slide rule passing was close to playing in the lively, Jetta.

County enjoyed a good spell of pressure in the 35th minute as McGoldrick raced down the left only to scuff his shot across goal allowing Smith to make a fine low save to his left. From the resulting corner the ball fell kindly to McDonald who side footed his shot straight at Smith showing good reactions to save well from close range.

The main threat from the Ravens was coming down the right through Imray but a delightful 1-2 in the 39th minute with Whitely came to nothing.

Congreve was played through by Cheek in the 41st minute only to be pulled down by Platt which earned him a yellow card. 

Bromley would have been the happier team at half time although Woodman would have been frustrated at his side’s habit of losing possession in midfield.

County excelled at denying Bromley clear goal scoring opportunities through a series of well-timed fouls.This pattern of play continued in the early stages of the second half until Whitely lost possession in the 55th minute near the halfway line.

Dangerman McGoldrick picked up the ball and weaved his way into the box earning a penalty after appearing to go down rather easily after a challenge by Elerewe.

Jones stuttered sending Smith the wrong way before stroking the ball low to the right into an empty net. Congreve was again scythed down in the 63rd minute by Hinchy when racing through but it was County that was holding the upper hand. Woodman acted decisively and replaced Thompson and Whitely with Ilunga and Leigh. Tsaroulla came on for Jones for County. 

In the 69th minute County were still looking dangerous and Jetta found himself through on goal but ran out of angle and his shot was blocked. McGoldrick drilled the rebound towards goal and his shot was bravely blocked by Webster.

Bromley were still in the game though and Woodman decided to roll the dice once more in the 75th minute with the arrival of Kabamba and Dennis for Odutayo and a frustrated Cheek.

County matched the changes withdrawing Grant and McGoldrick and throwing on new signings, Jarvis and Whitaker.

The Ravens were combining well down the left with Ilunga and Dennis and when Dennis crossed the ball into the box in the 80th minute it deflected into the path of Congreve whose brilliant footwork evaded several defenders at close quarters, and he somehow managed to squeeze a low shot past the keeper with the aid of the post. 

Following the substitutions, County were using the flanks much more effectively and Tsaroulla and Jarvis were causing the defence problems, but Bromley also looked capable of hitting on the counter and in the end both teams had to settle for a very hard-earned point. 

Next up for Bromley, another tough midweek trip to Chesterfield.

Notts County: Bass, Mcdonald, Bedeau, Platt, Hinchy, Austin, Jones (Tsaroulla 66), Grant (Whitaker 75), McGoldrick [C] (Jarvis 75), Jatta, and Abbott.Subs: Slocombe, Johnson, Edwards, and Gordon.

Bromley: Smith, Imray (Grant 89), Elerewe, Sowunmi, Webster [C], Odutayo (Dennis 75), Arthurs, Thompson (Leigh 66), Whitely (Ilunga 66), Congreve, and Cheek (Kabamba 75).Subs: Long and Charles.

Attendance: 9,947 (350 away).