United 1
(Jarvis 78′)
Bromley 2
(Sowunmi 35′, Marriott 82′ pen)
A late penalty saw Bromley emerge with all three points, despite a spirited show by Gary Johnson’s side at Plainmoor on Tuesday night.
Omar Sowunmi opened the scoring for the visitors on 35 minutes, before United battled to make it honours even through Aaron Jarvis in the 78th minute. However, a Bromley penalty was dispatched by Adam Marriott to secure Bromley all three points.
The Gulls boss made two changes to the side that lost out to Southend on Saturday, with Jacob Mensah and Dillon De Silva dropping to the bench, whilst Kieron Evans and Lewis Collins returned to the starting line-up.
Following a slow start for both sides, on 6 minutes it was the visitors who went close. Adam Marriot, striding central opted to play the ball out to Harry Forster on his right, who drove forward, before having a shot deflected wide.
In the 13th minute it was the visitors who threatened after a James Venning corner was played short, before the ball was passed central to Louis Dennis outside the box whose effort forced Mark Halstead to save. However, United went on to break on the counter, with Halstead’s long ball forward was chased down the left flank by Tope Fadahunsi, squaring the ball for Lewis Collins, who arriving in the middle at pace, could only fire his shot over.
On 29 minutes it was Gary Johnson’s side who went close to breaking through. A corner from Brett McGavin found Ross Marshall rising above his man beyond the far-post, with his header forcing a save out of Reice Charles-Cook, but moments later, McGavin fired a low effort just wide.
Minutes later Kieron Evans cut inside the right side of the Bromley box, with his drilled effort forcing Charles-Cook to parry his effort over the bar.
On 35 minutes however, it was the visitors who took the lead. Ryan Stirk’s corner found Omar Sowunmi at the far-post who was able to direct his header into the back of the net.
Despite the 1-0 deficit, Gary Johnson’s side continued to push Bromley back, but the game entered the halfway stage with the Gulls trailing 1-0.
After the restart it was United who went close to levelling the scores on 54 minutes with some great play by Kieron Evans. The Cardiff City loanee cut inside the left side of the Bromley box, with his low cross forcing Charles-Cook to parry the ball into the path of a red shirt, to deny United the opportunity to pounce on the rebound.
Minutes later Bromley’s backline had to work hard to keep Gary Johnson’s side from making it one-all. Another McGavin corner curled towards the far-post to meet Marshall rising, with his header being denied by the woodwork and falling into the path of Nico Lawrence who was quick to react with a volley, only to be denied by the Bromley goalkeeper from close-quarters.
In the 67th minute substitute Dillon De Silva picked up the ball just outside the right edge of the Bromley box, firing a low shot and forcing Charles-Cook to save once more.
On 78 minutes however, the men in yellow finally found a breakthrough. From a free kick level with the edge of the Bromley box out by the right-hand touchline, McGavin curled the ball towards the far-post where it was met by Jarvis who fired into the back of the net, 1-1.
Just two minutes later though, Donnellan was adjudged to have fouled a Bromley man and the referee pointed to the spot. Marriott stepped up to plant the ball into the bottom-left corner to make it 2-1 to Bromley.
Gary Johnson’s side continued to push to get something out of the game, but sadly it was to no avail.
United: 1. Mark Halstead, 4. Tom Lapslie (27′ Dillon De Silva 64′), 6. Ross Marshall (7. Ryan Hanson 83′), 9. Aaron Jarvis, 10. Tope Fadahunsi, 11. Kieron Evans, 14. Brett McGavin, 16. Shaun Donnellan, 19. Nico Lawrence, 21. Dean Moxey (c) (15. Ben Wyatt 18′), 31. Lewis Collins.
SUBS NOT USED: 12. Jacob Mensah, 22. Rhys Lovett.
Yellow Cards: Jarvis 21′, Donnellan 80′
Bromley: 13. Reice Charles-Cook, 6. Omar Sowunmi, 9. Michael Cheek (14. Mitchel Bergkamp 50′), 10. Adam Marriott, 11. Louis Dennis (35. Kellen Fisher 59′), 15. Zak Bradshaw, 17. Byron Webster (c) (2. Callum Reynolds 45′), 18. Corey Whitely, 19. Harry Forster, 21. James Vennings, 23. Besart Topalloj
SUBS NOT USED: 20. Jude Arthurs, 32. Ben Krauhaus.
Yellow Cards: Forster 45+5′
Attendance: 1,430 (31 away)