Bromley celebrated the opening of the new Glyn Beverly stand with a stylish win over a Crystal Palace XI in front of an impressive crowd at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon.
Prior the game former players and Beverly family members came on to the pitch for the opening of the stand by club owner and former player Jerry Dolke and once the game kicked off the home side attacked towards that end which was fittingly almost full to capacity.
The Ravens started on top, Billy Bingham fired a free kick over, before hitting the post from the edge of the box after forcing a mix up between the Palace defence. George Porter had an effort saved by Dion Henry, before the visitors first shot on goal came on fifteen minutes when Tristan Abrahams fired a good chance over the bar.
The lively Jordan Higgs was denied by Henry and the young midfielder was also involved in a move with Porter and Bingham, which the former Gillingham midfielder fired over.
Bromley finally made their pressure count on 26mins when a corner was only half cleared and Higgs sent the ball back in for Joe Kizzi to to head home at the far post. The Ravens were denied a good shout for a penalty soon after when Adrian Clifton was floored by Lewis Hobbs and the home seined went on to dominate the rest of the half without any real clear chances.
Palace came out looking far more lively in the second half, but Bromley still had the better early chances with Luke Couslon forcing a save from Henry and Clifton also seeing his overhead kick saved. The Eagles started to have more if the ball and use it better, but Bromley’s defence was solid and stood up well to the test.
On the break The Ravens continued to look a threat, Coulson and Bingham were denied by Henry, while Mark Cousins in the home goal did well to stop a near post drive from Olowale Taniwowo and a fierce dipping free kick from Jason Lokilo. Idris Kadded dragged good chance wide as Palace continued to press, but the final chance of the game fell to Bromley’s Korey Henry who turned a powerful Reeco Fairchild-Hackett cross wide of the post from six yards out.
This was another impressive display from Neil Smith’s side as they prepare for the first National League game in two weeks time. The Ravens now travel to Dartford on Tuesday night before entertaining a Charlton Athletic XI at home next Saturday.
Bromley: Cousins, Kizzi, Wood, Holland (Okoye 57), Bush, Coulson (Henry 70), Higgs, Raymond, Porter (Fairchild-Hackett 57), Bingham (Tanner 70), Clifton (Cheek 62).
Palace: Henry, D Boateng, Williams, Innis, Hobbs, Perrick, McGregor, Daly, Abrahams, Addy. Subs: Taniwowo, Tupper, Lokilo, Russell, Mensah, Street, Kadded, Aveiro, Flanagan, Olopade, Agyaakwah.
Goal: Kizzi 26mins.
Ref: Mr Gerry Heron