An injury Bromley who also had Ali Fuseini sent off slumped to a disappointing defeat at home to Torquay who secured their National League status with this well deserved win.

With only one senior player on the bench and a makeshift line up, The Ravens started brightly in a lively beginning to the game with Brad Goldberg and Adam Cunnington looking bright up front and Moses Emmanuel causing a threat in an unfamiliar role down the right wing.

Cunnington was denied a great chance to score by a superb last ditched tackle from Ben Gerring and The Gulls then made the most of their first chance.

Josh Rees’ shot was deflected wide for a corner, which was taken by Luke Young and headed home by an unmarked Angus Macdonald inside the six yard box.

Bromley battled back with Adam Coombes and Bradley Goldberg combining to set up Ali Fuseini whose shot skidded wide.

Joe Anderson then forced a save from Brendan Moore, but The Ravens were hampered by the loss of Lee Minshull to injury before the break and lost their way.

The second half saw the visitors handed a further advantage when Fuseini was sent off for a second yellow card, presumably for decent after speaking to the referee following a free kick award to Bromley.

Undeterred Goldberg had a shot saved by Moore and then hit the bar as the young striker found space on the edge of the box, but the home side’s momentum ran out as the half went on.

Shaun Harrad hit a volley just over and had another shot saved by Alan Julian as The Gulls pressed and the home side’s frustration with the referee boiled over again with Cunnington booked after conceding a free kick for what looked a cleanly won header.

Emmanuel had a chance cleared away, but the killer blow for Torquay came on 85 minutes when Courtney Richards curled in a superb free kick over the wall and just inside the post to secure the three points and their league safety.

Late on Jack Holland headed a good chance over from a corner and Emmanuel fired just wide, but this was not Bromley’s afternoon and they ended with nothing from this game, but another injury and an upcoming suspension.

Neil Smith will now take his side to Gateshead next week without a recognised central midfielder and a threadbare squad minus several key players.

 

Bromley: Julian, Dubois (Gordon 52), Anderson, Holland, Swaine, Emmanuel, Fuseini, Minshull (Higgs 32), Coombes (O’Connor 84), Goldberg, Cunnington.

Subs Not Used: Crean, Stanic-Stewart.

Torquay: Moore, Verma, Gerring, Macdonald, Butler, Young (Ajala 45), Rees, Richards, Allen (Wright 85), Blissett, Harrad (Channey 67).

Subs Not Used: Fisher, Geohaghon.

Goals: Torquay – Macdonald 10, Richards 85mins.

Ref: Mr D Eaton

HT 0-1 FT 0-2

Att: 2,088

Pictures supplied by www.edboydenphotos.co.uk