Bromley were held to a draw by a hard working and tough Chester side at a wet Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon in a game where both sides struggled to take their chances.

The game began with both sides creating early chances, Adam Mekki firing wide for The Ravens while Paul Turnbull was off target for the visitors.

Bromley started to press Chester with Frankie Raymond shooting wide from distance, but it was The Blues who took the lead on 13 minutes with a break up field.

Ross Hannah found space on the edge of the box and showed great foot work and control before curling the ball past David Gregory into the net.

Chester’s lead only lasted two minutes though as from the kick off The Ravens pressed and after Luke Wanadio’s shot was parried by Alex Lynch, Louis Dennis pounce to score from close range.

Jordan Gough had a header saved by Gregory and Hannah put the rebound wide as the visitors looked to restore their lead, but Bromley then had a good spell with Dennis and Wanadio going close.

Just before the half time break, Chester’s Harry White looked set to score before Alan Dunne made a superb block as the striker let fly from ten yards out.

Bromley started the second half brightly, Wanadio put a great ball across the box that evaded everyone, before Dennis had a shot cleared off the line by Hannah.

The visitors weren’t afraid to indulge in the cynical side of the game as The Ravens pressed with Mekki taken out by Gough who was booked along with Kingsley James soon after for a hack at Wanadio without any attempt to win the ball.

Raymond went close with a free kick and Jack Holland put a header wide from a corner, but then Marcus Bignott’s side then created some good chances on the break.

Hannah hit the foot of the post with a shot from ten yards out and then sub Nyal Bell had an effort saved by Gregory.

Wanadio had a shot saved after a good run and Dennis fired over as the game opened up, but it was Chester who had the best chance to score when Holland gave the ball away in midfield and Bell ran clear only to drive his effort wide of the target.

Turnbull was the next Blues player to be booked after a crude challenge on Iffy Allen, but despite a late spell Bromley could find no way through the visitors’ defence with Dennis and Dunne both shooting wide late on.

Although Neil Smith’s side probably had the better of things, Chester did a good job away from home and earned their point as the look to edge away from the relegation zone.

Bromley entertain fifth placed Aldershot on Tuesday night looking to pick up points to keep them close to the play off spots.

 

Bromley: Gregory, Dunne, Sterling, Holland, D Johnson, Dennis, Rees (Vose 66), Raymond, Mekki (Allen 56), Wanadio, Porter (Adeyinka 64).

Subs Not Used: Wynter, Higgs.

Chester: Lynch, Hall, Rowe-Turner, James, McCombe, Turnbull, White (Bell 64), Hannah, Dawson, Akintunde, Gough.

Subs Not Used: Vaughan, Joyce, Rainey, Anderson.

Goals – Chester: Hannah 13mins. Bromley: Dennis 15mins.

Att: 1,129

HT 1-1 FT 1-1

Ref: Mr G Parsons

Images courtesy of Edmund Boyden