Despite creating numerous chances and dominating long spells of the game Bromley were lucky in the end to pick up a point from their League Two clash with Port Vale at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon with the visitors having scored a clear goal that the match officials somehow failed to spot. 

The Ravens started the game on the front foot with Corey Whitely setting up Michael Cheek who fired wide when well placed.

With Bromley putting Darren Moore’s Vale under pressure with Karmal Grant’s long throws, Cameron Congreve headed wide from one soon after. Danny Imray was again a real threat down Bromley’s right and he went on a superb run before sending a powerful shot across goal and narrowly wide of the far post.

Port Vale’s first chance fell to Stockley who saw his long range shot deflect off Callum Reynolds for a corner, but it was The Ravens who dominated the half, pressing Vale back for long spells and causing them to lose possession countless times in midfield.

Imray & Cheek went close again before Imray’s cross from the right found Cheek who was denied by Ripley in the visitors goal. Imray then sent in a great ball for Omar Sowunmi who headed down to Jude Arthurs to shoot just off target. Whitely was next to set up Cheek with a great ball from the left, but the excellent Ripley made a superb one handed save from the striker’s header.

Late on Sowunmi headed a Thompson cross over, before Vale had the final chance of the half when Curtis’ volley from 20 yards deflected over.

The second half saw Port Vale start looking more of an attacking threat, but on a break upfield Imray put a chance wide after another good run.

Imray then had another shot that Reynolds tried to convert, colliding with Ripley and causing a delay for treatment to the keeper. With The Ravens now pressing, it was Vale who looked to counter, Richards surged upfield and set up Hackford but Grant Smith was on hand to make a vital save.

Smith then saved bravely at the feet of Richards as the game really opened up, Congreve having a one on one saved by Ripley at one end before Richards shot just wide from just outside the area.

Vale now looked the more likely to score as they pushed Bromley back, scrambles in the area and last ditch blocks from the home defence kept Port Vale out until the main talking point of the game came when Richards had a shot blocked by Grant and Stockley followed up on the rebound heading it over the line before Odutayo hooked the ball away only for neither the linesman or referee to identify the ball had gone in.

With the visitors’ protests continuing, Bromley broke up field and Olufela Olomola had a shot saved by Ripley amid chaotic scenes. Whitely then fired wide from range as Andy Woodman’s team looked to cash in on their reprieve.

Whitely went close again soon after and a dangerous Thomson corner was punched away by Ripley from under his own crossbar. Ripley then made one final save from a Sowunmi header at a corner and a breathless game ended scoreless.

After recording their ninth  draw of the season, Bromley now sit in fourteenth place, ten points above the bottom two ahead of their trip to Morecombe next Saturday.       

Bromley: Smith, Imray, Grant, Reynolds, Grant, Odutayo, Thompson, Whitely, Congreve (Olomola 69, Arthurs, Cheek. Subs Not Used: Amantchi, Leigh, Charles, Passley, Webster.     
Port Vale: Ripley, Hall, Hengeham, Debrah, Hart (Cover 22), Harper (Lowe 94), Croasdale, John, Curtis (Richards 45), Hackford (Paton 64), Stokcley. Subs Not Used: Amos, Tolaj, Smith.  
Att: 3,679
Referee: Jacob Miles