Despite a spirited second half display, Bromley’s FA Cup campaign came to an end in front of a packed Hayes Lane and the BBC2 audience as they were comfortably dispatched by League One Blackpool on Saturday evening thanks to two first half goals.
The Tangerines started the game on top with Owen Dale going close and they went in front after only 5 minutes when a quick break up field saw the ball come out to Shayne Lavery who cut inside from the left and smashed the ball home past Grant Smith.
Former Celtic starlet Karamoko Dembele then had a shot deflected wide, before Bromley got into things and had a strong shout for a penalty turned down when Josh Passley went down in the area under Dales’s challenge, which Referee David Rock waved away.
The Ravens then had a series of corners, but Blackpool always looked dangerous on the break. Passley then set up Corey Whitely, but his shot was well saved by Rich O’Donnell in the Tangerines’ goal.
Heading towards the half hour mark Kenny Dougal fired wide, before the visitors extended their lead when Dembele turned sharply on the edge of the area played a one two with Kylian Kouassi and then volleyed past Smith for 0-2.
Chin Okoli headed a free kick wide as The Ravens tried to get back into things with the rain pouring down, but Blackpool finished the half stronger, passing the ball around neatly with Albie Morgan pulling the strings in midfield. Kouassi and Andy Lyons both going close as Neil Critchley’s men looked to finish the game off.
The second half started with Dake having a shot saved by Smith at his near post and Besart Topalloj then made a great tackle to deny Lavery.
Bromley rallied as the half went on Olufela Olomola fired over and he then just failed to connect to a Topalloj cross as it skidded across the face of the goal. Olomola looked to have half a shout for a penalty when He went down under Marvin Ekpeteta’s grappling, Deji Elerewe then had a shot blocked in the six yard box after Michael Cheek had seen his header saved.
With The Ravens starting to press Topalloj crossed for Cheek who side footed wide from a tight angle, then an Okoli header was parried by O’Donnell and Cheek, making his 200th appearance for the club, uncharacteristically shanked the ball across the goal and wide from close range.
Late on Jake Beesley had a shot saved by Smith after Bromley had given the ball away trying to over play the ball on the edge of their area. Despite another good spell from The Ravens, Blackpool held out and kept Andy Woodman’s team at bay to secure their place in the second round.
Bromley now have to regroup and focus on challenging for the National League play offs with a game at Boreham Wood next Saturday.
Bromley: Smith, Passley (Miller 71) Elerewe, Webster, Okoli, Topalloj, Woods (Vennings 45), Whitely, Krauhaus, Cheek, Dennis (Olomola 45).
Subs Not Used: Reynolds, Jones, Kpekawa, Pepple, Arthurs.
Blackpool: O’Donnell, Connolly, Husband, Dale (Thompson 81), Morgan, Dembele (Oakley-Boothe 81), Kouassi (Beesley 55), Lavery (Casey 58).
Subs Not Used: Pennington, Rhodes, Weir, Hamilton, Grimshaw.
Goals: Lavery 5, Dembele 28mins
HT 0-2 FT 0-2
Referee: David Rock