In front of a much improved home crowd Bromley were taught a harsh lesson by their affluent visitors who totally dominated the game and gave a masterclass in how to play against ten men after Conor Dymond was sent off at 2-0.
Eastleigh began the game on top with Bromley on the back foot and they were in front after only four minutes when Mikael Mandron was given time and space on the edge of the box to slot the ball past Alan Juilan.
Bromley occasionally launched counter attacks via long balls to Alfie Pavey and Louis Dennis down the wing, but nothing came of them and the visitors continued to press. After a series of corners and set pieces the visitors eventually made it 2-0 on 26 minutes when Jason Taylor’s deep free kick was knocked down by James Constable into Mandron’s path who coolly finished from twelve yards under no pressure at all.
Just after, The Spitfires got a lucky escape when Ryan Cresswell flattened George Porter and only received a warning, but minutes later Bromley were not so lucky when Dymond received a straight red card for a tackle on Jason Taylor near the half way line. For a while following the red card Eastleigh seemed happy to pass the ball around and kill time, Rob Swaine did block a shot from Constable, but the visitors keeper Ross Flitney was cautioned for wasting time before half time.
Bromley started the second half with a bit more promise George Porter set up Pavey who missed a great chance placing his chance wide of the post from ten yards, then the Millwall loanee shanked another chance over after good work by Tobi Sho-Silva and put another Porter cross wide.
As The Ravens ran out of steam in midfield Eastleigh picked them off with a third goal on the break after 57 minutes, Adam Dawson finding Jake Howells with a great ball who then neatly beat Julian from ten yards out. Cresswell had a goal ruled out for a push, before The Spitfires made it 4-0 when Mandron played a one two with Andy Drury before completing his hatrick.
Dennis played in Sho-Silva who fired over from twenty yards on a rare foray from The Ravens, but they were soon 0-5 down on 72 minutes when Howells found Adam Dawson in space to clip the ball home. The game then drifted to a conclusion with the only effort of note coming when Scott Wilson’s shot was saved by Julian on a day to forget for Neil Smith’s side.
Bromley travel up to Barrow next Saturday looking to bounce back from this humbling defeat at the hands of a side who were able to attract players from Football League sides in the summer and now have experienced manager Ronnie Moore in charge.
Bromley: Julian, Holland (Howe 33), Johnson, Swaine, Anderson, Dennis, Dymond, G Porter, M Porter, Turgott (Sho-Silva 45), Pavey (Cunnington 69). Subs Not Used: Prestedge, Goldberg.
Eastleigh: Flitney, Green, Essam (Partington 76), Dugdale, Drury (Reason 76), Constable, Howells (Wilson 80), Dawson, Mandron, Cresswell, Taylor. Subs Not Used: Huddart, Bird.
Goals: Eastleigh – Madron 4, 26 and 64, Howells 57, Dawson 72mins.
Ref: C Hicks
Att: 909