Bromley suffered a demoralising home defeat against relegation threatened York City at a chilly Hayes Lane on Tuesday night, having had goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook sent off just before half time and being forced to play left back Besart Topalloj in goal for the remainder of the game.
Byron Webster & Charlie Kendall were both still out injured, while Michael Cheek returned to the bench and Louis Dennis replaced Jude Arthurs in the starting line up.
The Ravens made a positive start to the game looking to press, but the visitors were happy to sit back and let Bromley play the ball around in front of them.
As the half went on the home side’s tactic of hitting long balls to lone striker Adam Marriott proved to be fruitless and they slowly lost momentum going forward.
Heading into the break Corey Whitely was fouled by Mark Ellis just outside the area and the defender was booked, but when Ryan Stirk’s free kick was cleared it was York who grabbed the initiative.
With Whitely the last man back, his under pressure back pass was too short to reach Charles-Cook and Mitch Hancox nipped in to take the ball past the keeper and be brought down in the area by the home custodian.
Referee Wayne Cartmell awarded City the penalty and then ref carded the keeper and with no keeper on the bench Topallij took the gloves. Lenell Jogn-Lewis smashed the penalty high into the net to put The Minstermen in front at half time.
The second half saw Bromley start slowly, John-Lewis going close three times early on, while The Ravens’ only effort came from Harry Forster whose shot was saved.
Despite Forster looking the most dangerous going forward for the home side he was substituted just after the hour and they lacked cutting edge.
The game was as good as over on 65 minutes when James Vennings gave the ball away in midfield and Ryan Fallowfield raced clear of the home defence to smash the ball into the roof of the net for 2-0 to York.
Fallowfield went close again soon after, but the visitors did make it 3-0 on 75minutes when Dan Pybus put in a fantastic cross from the right for Luke James to head the ball into the corner of the net.
Bromley did keep going and Omar Sowunmi had a header from a corner saved by Ryan Whitely, but there was no way through for Andy Woodman’s team.
The defeat leaves Bromley in ninth place, five points off the National League play offs. With a free weekend they are next in action away at Halifax Town next Tuesday and by then they will need to have found a keeper to cover Charles-Cook’s suspension.
Bromley: Charles-Cook, Fisher, Topalloj, Sowunmi, Reynolds, Whitely (Elerewe 79), Vennings, Stirk, Forster (Cheek 62), Dennis (Krauhuas 45), Marriott.
Subs Not Used: Bergkamp, Arthurs.
York: Whitey, Fallowfield, Kouogun, McLaughlin, Dyson (Forde 81), Whittle (James 45), John-Lewis (Duku 75), Hancox, Pybus, Ellis, Duckworth.
Subs Not Used: Campbell, Kerr.
Goals: John-Lewis 45pen, Fallowfield 64, James 75mins.
HT 0-1 FT 0-3
Referee: Mr Wayne Campbell
Attendance: 1760