Bromley suffered their first defeat in League One on Saturday afternoon when they were comprehensively outclassed by an impressive Sheffield Wednesday side, who served The Ravens a brutal reality check into life in the third tier.
Bromley went into the game playing a back three with Mitchell Pinnock and Marcus Ifill as wing backs, but their defensive frailties were soon exposed.
After an early corner for The Ravens, the home side broke quickly up field and Barry was denied by Shamal George when one on one. George then had to tip over a wayward clearance from Will Hondermarck for another corner as Wednesday pressed, which Lowe headed just over. The home side did take the lead on seven minutes though, Barry raced down the right crossing for Slattery who side footed home for 1-0.
Bromley chased the ball for long spells and never looked comfortable when in possession, the match looked more like a cup tie between sides a couple of divisions apart.
The second goal eventually coming on 31 minutes when Burstow coolly found the corner of the net after a defence splitting pass from Santos opened The Ravens backline up.
The need to get to half time without conceding again was obvious to all, but sadly Bromley just couldn’t make it and right on the break Omar Sowunmi gave the ball away on the halfway line leaving Lowe to run through and slip the ball past George for 3-0 at the end of the half, killing the game off as a contest.
Andy Woodman made three changes at half time, but they had no time to settle in before it was 4-0, when on their first attack Wednesday scored again, Barry finding the net as he left the Bromley defence standing.
It was 5-0 four minutes later as The Ravens were cut open again, Barry scoring his second goal after George had initially made a good save, but his defence failed to clear the danger.
The play continued to be one way traffic, Bannan having a shot saved by the over worked George in the away goal. Bromley switched to a back four on the hour and they did have a decent spell from there, but it came to nothing and they were 6-0 down on 73 minutes, when Lowe pounce on a rebound after another George save.
Bromley’s first effort on goal came when Ethon Archer crossed for Victor Adeboyejo who headed wide, but they were seven down on 81 minutes when a cross from the right was headed home by Otegbayo unmarked at the far post.
Bromley finally picked up a little attacking momentum late on, Ifill’s shot was saved by Lumley with Adeboyejo blazing the rebound over. However, Adeboyejo did find the target on 85 minutes when he was brought down in the area by Thornton, after a good pass from Archer, and Referee Mr Finnie awarded a penalty to the visitors.
The striker slotted the spot kick down the middle for 7-1 and Adeboyejo notched his fourth goal of the season soon after, when his near post header was deflected home for 7-2 to sweeten the pill a little for the 850 travelling fans who backed their team the whole game.
Andy Woodman now has to prepare his side for the home game with Leyton Orient on Tuesday night, hoping they can find a response to a chastening afternoon at Hillsborough.
Sheffield Wednesday: Lumley, James, Cooper (Palmer 69), Santos (Otegbayo 45), Valery, Bannan (Morrison 61), Mitchell (Thornton 69), Barry (Al-Hamadi 79), Slattery, Lowe, Burstow.
Subs Not Used: Moses, Trueman.
Bromley: George, Ifill, Sowunmi, Grant, Headman, Pinnock (Archer 45), Conteh, Whitely (Adeboyejo 45), Hondermarck (Mendy 60), McKiernan (Brenan 45), Cheek (Kabamba 69).
Subs Not Used: Mason, Thompsom.
Goals – SWFC: Slattery 7, Burstow 31, Lowe 45, 73, Barry 46, 49, Otegbayo 81mins. BFC: Adeboyejo 85pen, 87mins.
HT 3-0 FT 7-2
Att: 30,006
Referee: Mr Will Finnie