Bromley ended their remarkable season with a win and despite losing the tie 4-1 on aggregate salvaged a good deal off pride in the process against an ultra cautious Ebbsfleet side that only registered two shots on target. 

The Ravens started on top with Sam Higgins having a shot saved by Preston Edwards and Joe Anderson going close with a free kick. The play was often broken up by petty fouls and the delaying tactics of the Fleet keeper who took his time over every kick.

Rob Swaine headed just wide from a corner while Fleet had a goal disallowed for handball on a rare break. Bromley took the lead on 25 minutes when Danny Waldren finished brilliantly from the edge of the box diverting a cross on the half volley past Edwards.

The Ravens finished the half on top with Anderson going close and Higgins having a fierce drive superbly palmed away by Edwards. Adam Bailey-Dennis was hurt just before the break when bravely challenging for a ball at a corner.

The second half took a while to get going before Bromley started to have a good spell, but fail to create any clear chances. Daryl McMahon fired wide with Fleet’s first attempt on goal on the hour and Anthony Cook did the same soon after, but The Ravens still pressed on.

Jay May headed a Jack Holland cross over, Waldren forced a save from Edwards and Higgins headed over, but despite throwing four forwards up, Bromley just couldn’t find a way through the tough Fleet defence again.

The ill feeling between the sides spilled over late on with two red cards, the first to Fleet’s Dean Rance for an awful lunge on Brad Goldberg and the second to Holland for a scythe on Cook that got him a second yellow card.

The dismissals ended the game as a competition and Fleet saw the tie out.

In the end the bigger budgets and squads told and Mark Goldberg’s men had to settle for third place and play off defeat, but given they were 50-1 for the league title in July that’s quite an achievement.

Ebbsfleet now face Dover twice this week in two cup finals.

 

Bromley: Welch, Holland, Anderson, Waldren, Swaine, Bailey-Dennis (May 63), Dubois, Buchanan, Higgins, Goldberg, Dennis (Reid 75).

Subs not used; Pooley, Kiernan, Fuseini.

Ebbsfleet: Edwards, Howe, Palmer, McMahon, Acheampong, Huke, Osborn(Sankofa 85), Rance, May, Bricknell (Thalasitis 70), Cook.

Subs not used: Hall, Long, Sessegnon.

Att: 1,441

Goal: Waldren 25mins Bromley

Star man: Preston Edwards (Ebbsfleet)

Ref: Mr Ross.

Match Rating: 4/5

Pictures supplied by Ed Boyden.