Bromley’s chances of making the National League promotion play offs took a near fatal blow on Tuesday night at Hayes Lane as they were unable to break down a solid Barrow side who needed points to avoid relegation.

The game started in open fashion with play going from end to end, but there were few chances of note in the first twenty minutes or so.

The visitors’ Luke James went close with a long range lob, but David Gregory was able to scramble back into goal and clear the danger.

Bromley had a strong shout for a penalty soon after when Brandon Hanlan was hauled down in the area, but Referee David Rock showed no interest and carried on in this lenient vein all evening letting several heavy challenges go.

The Ravens pressed for a spell, but struggled to find a way through The Bluebirds backline and the visitors then also dominated for a while with a series of long throws and high balls into the box, James forcing a save from Gregory.

Mr Rock finally found his yellow card late in the half when Nathan Waterston was lucky to only see yellow for an awful late foul on Tyrone Sterling long after the ball had gone.

In first half injury time Hanlan broke free for Bromley, but his low shot was saved by the feet of keeper Steve Arnold and Jordan Higgs volleyed the rebound over the bar.

The second half saw Bromley come out looking to take the initiative, George Porter fired over and Higgs turned a corner wide of the target.

Then Omar Bugeil hit a low drive from 20 yards, which Arnold turned round the post for another corner. Manager Neil Smith introduced Louis Dennis for more attacking threat and the number 10 went close soon after when a half cleared free kick fell to him on the edge of the box and he forced Arnold into another good stop low down by the post.

Dennis then put a shot across goal that Hanlan couldn’t connect with and Hanlan saw his attempted lob gathered by Arnold. With Adam Mekki also on the field, The Ravens had four forwards on and an attacking midfielder, but they were unable to put on a sustained spell of pressure and the visitors started to threat with James having a shot saved and Lewis Walters shooting over.

After Mekki was caught with a two footed studs up challenge from Kingsley James that also went unpunished Bromley finally made a late press for the vital goal.

For all their efforts The Ravens were unable to make it count with the best chance falling to Roger Johnson who fired wide following a scramble from a corner.

Bromley now travel to Maidenhead Utd on Saturday for the final game of the league season needing a win and for several other results to go their way to have a chance of making the post season.

 

Bromley: Gregory, Dunne (Woolfenden 79), Sterling (Dennis 60), Holland, R Johnson, Higgs, Sutherland, Raymond, Porter (Mekki 72), Hanlan, Bugeil.

Subs Not Used: Rees, D Johnson.

Barrow: Arnold, Jones, K James, Diarra, MacDonald (Panayitou 75), White, Hall, Waterston (Walters 80), Diagne, Gomis, L James.

Subs Not Used:Cook, Fitzpatrick, Holt.

Referee: Mr Rock.

Att: 1,331