A woeful and abject display by Bromley on Saturday saw them return from Aldershot with tails firmly between their legs following a high-octane dismantling from the playoff chasing Shots.
Dealt a blow in the pre-match warm up Bromley were forced to give a debut to goalkeeper Billy Granger, signed on a short term deal earlier in the week, in place of Ross Flitney who had pulled up with a groin strain.
It was a tough ask for Granger to quickly familiarise himself with the Bromley defence and his task was made harder by the quickfire start Aldershot made to the game.
As early as the third minute of the game Jim Kellerman served notice of the hosts’ intention with a fierce drive from 25 yards that fizzed over the crossbar.
The highly sought after teenager Idris Kanu then used his trickery to beat two Bromley defenders before seeing his curling effort from the edge of the box deflected over the bar.
With Aldershot threatening every time they roamed forward they should have taken the lead in the 9th minute. Mesmerising one touch interchange between Scott Rendell, Kundal Benyu and Shamir Fenelon freed up the latter in the penalty area but his goalbound effort was deflected wide by last ditch Bromley defending.
Bromley not only struggled to mount any attacking fluency in the early stage but at times they were left chasing shadows as Aldershot launched wave after wave of attack. Kanu again tested Granger in the 20th minute forcing the custodian to parry behind his effort from the edge of the box.
Bromley nearly made Aldershot pay for their prolifigacy in front of goal with their only meaningful chance over the course of the 90 minutes. Bradley Goldberg did well to capitalise on a Will Evans slip and as he advanced on goal he played in Louis Dennis. However Dennis could only succeed in shooting into the side netting from a tight angle.
Aldershot eventually made their overall dominance count taking the lead ten minutes before half time, Nick Arnold’s deep cross following a Shots corner deceived Granger and nestled into the top corner of the goal. Wether Arnold meant it or not the goal was no more than Aldershot deserved.
Eager to kill the game off before half time, Aldershot continued to attack at will and Rendell should have done better three minutes before half time but he toe-poked an effort straight at Granger after capitalising on Kellerman’s deflected drive. However the shots were not to be denied in their next attack. Cheye Alexander did well to ghost past Louis Dennis and pass to an unmarked Fenelon who had all the freedom of the penalty area to send a low drive past Granger into the corner of the net.
Rendell should have made it three on the stroke of half time but his curling effort was cleared off the line by Ben Chorley.
With Bromley all at sea, half time should have represented an opportunity for Neil Smith to reorganise his side and instil some much needed shape and solidity. However given the way Bromley started the second half one can only presume his team talk fell on deaf ears.
Within four minutes of the restart Bromley were three goals behind. Slack passing amongst the Bromley defence and intense Aldershot pressing led to Benyu setting up Fenelon to cross for an unmarked Gallagher who powered his header beyond Granger.
Both Arnold and Rendell should have done better, either side of the hour mark, shooting wildly over when well set in the penalty area as Aldershot continued to ask serious questions of the visitors.
Bromley did eventually manage to create two half-chances in the final quarter of an hour. Goldberg’s flick released substitute Tobi-Sho Silva but his toe-poked effort was easily smothered by Jake Cole before Goldberg himself forced Cole to gather a low drive from 20 yards out.
The Shots were not, however, to be denied a fourth goal and saved their best till last. Substitute Matt McClure advanced unpressured in the middle of the pitch and hit a dipping, swerving effort from 30 yards that gave Granger no chance. The goal was worthy of any top level game and was suitable icing on the cake on a ruthless Aldershot performance that oozed class and panache from start to finish.
The Shots are now nine games unbeaten and have a real chance of making the post season playoffs however for Bromley, the defeat marks three on the spin and with much work to do on the training ground to overturn the poor run of form.
With relegation threatened Braintree Town visiting Hayes Lane on Tuesday, Bromley manager Neil Smith will no doubt be looking for an instant response.
Aldershot Town: Cole, Alexander, Evans, Reynolds ©, Arnold, Fenelon, Gallagher, Kellerman, Benyu (Giles 69), Kanu (Mensah 51), Rendell (McClure 64)
Subs not used: Buckley, Smith
Goals: Arnold 37, Fenelon 44, Gallagher 49, McClure 84
Bromley: Granger, Dunne (Johnson 80), Holland ©, Chorley, Anderson, Turgott (Martin 56), Minshull, Higgs, Dennis (Sho-Silva 56), Goldberg, Hanlan
Subs not used: Wynter, Dymond
Attendance: 2014 (Bromley 102)
Referee: Mr Samuel Allison