Bromley picked up another hard fought three points against Notts County at a blustery Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon thanks to a goal from Jude Arthurs in first half injury time and a battling defensive second half display.

Watched by a huge crowd of 3,606 it was the visitors who started brightly pressing The Ravens early on, but Bromley rallied and had a good spell of their own with Harry Forster hitting a cross shot from the left which skimmed wide just past the far post.

Notts went close through Cal Roberts and Zak Brunt as play flowed from end to end and both had strong spells. Michael Cheek played a great pass to George Alexander whose low drilled hot was well saved by Sam Slocombe in the visitors’ goal.

Roberts had two good chances for County, one saved by Mark Cousins and the other from range which dipped just wide after Forster had slipped and was injured on the edge of the area.

It proved to be a key moment in the game with Forster having to be replaced by Scott Wagstaff and he gave the midfield some extra strength and experience.

Corey Whitely dropped to left wing back and went close soon after when he cut in from the left and fired just over. Play continued to ebb and flow with chances at both ends, Kyle Woottton had a shot cleared off the line by Omar Sowunmi, while at the other end Chris Bush had a 40 yarder saved by Slocombe.

Late in the half Bromley pressed again and they took the lead in injury time when Luke Coulson’s corner from the left was flicked on by Cheek at the near post and Jude Arthurs pounced to covert the ball over the line in a crowed six yard box from close range to put The Ravens in front, his third goal in three games.

The second half carried on in the same vein, with Bromley pressing early on and County rallying with chances at both ends, Alexander headed wide and Whitely put a chance over, before Wootton and Rueben Rodrigues went close for Notts.

Alexander shot over after a slip by County captain Kyle Cameron, before Whitely then raced clear down the left again and hit the outside of the post from the edge of the area.

The pace of the game slowed midway through as Bromley dug in and defended their lead, Rodrigues shot wide as he connected with a long throw from Joel Taylor, but The Ravens could also have doubled their lead when a Coulson cross found Wagstaff whose powerful drive from 20 yards was parried by Slocombe, but Cheek slipped as he tried to connect with the rebound.

Coulson then had a shot saved, before County had one final push for an equaliser, but Elisha Sam’s header from a Taylor long throw was acrobatically saved by Cousins to secure the three points for Andy Woodman’s team.                                    

The win keeps Bromley in third place and cements their place as genuine National League title challengers ahead of their trip to leaders Halifax Town next Saturday. 

Bromley: Cousins, Bush, Sowunmi, Webster, Whitely, Arthurs, Forster (Wagstaff 24), Coulson, Cheek (Cawley 90), Alexander (Alabi 75).

Subs Not Used: Partington, Sablier. 

Notts County: Slocombe, Cameron, Lacey, Palmer, Taylor, Brindley (Mitchell 64), Richardson, Brunt (Vincent 64), Roberts (Sam 82), Rodrigues, Wootton.

Subs Not Used: Chicksen, Francis. 

Att: 3,606

HT 1-0 FT 1-0 

Referee: Scotts Tallis