Bromley and FC Halifax Town battled out a hard fought draw at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon, both sides scoring within two minutes of each other just after the hour mark.

Andy Woodman made two changes to the starting line up bringing in George Alexander and Callum Reynolds to replace Ethan Coleman and Chris Bush.

The Ravens started the game looking to be positive, but Halifax had the first chance when Taylor Golden shot wide from the edge of the area.

Harry Forster was a real threat down the right for Bromley and he put in a good cross for Michael Cheek who turned the ball wide from six yards out.

The main feature of the opening stages was the battle between Omar Sowunmi and Town target man Manny Dieseruvwe, which saw neither player back down.

As the half went on the play evened out and Halifax went close when good work by Angelo Capello down the left saw the ball come to Dieseruvwe who hit a half volley just wide from 20 yards out.

The pace of the game slowed going into the break, with the only chance of note coming when Corey Whitely drove over from range. 

The second half saw Bromley start well again, Reece Hannam finally started to get some change out of Taylor Golden down the left, who had given him nothing in the first half, and he played in Whitely who clipped the ball over the bar.

With the game developing a more physical edge, Dieseruvwe was lucky only to see a yellow card after catching Reynolds in the face when challenging for a header.

Jamie Stott hit a long range shot from the halfway line, which sailed wide before Bromley got the vital breakthrough on 62 minutes. Alexander broke down the right and found Whitely who played in Cheek with a lovely pass that saw the striker coolly slot the ball past Sam Johnson low into the far corner of the net for 1-0.

With the home crowd lifted and hoping for a much needed win, the atmosphere soon turned again when only two minutes later The Shaymen equalised. Capello broke down the left and when a cross found Dieseruvwe he headed against the bar, which rebounded out to Jamie Cooke who converted from six yards out for 1-1.

The Ravens rallied from this set back and Jack Hunter was very lucky to stay on the pitch after catching Whitely in the throat when halting his powerful run through midfield.

Going into the last ten minutes Bromley dominated possession, but Halifax dug in. There was a few blocked shots from around the area and Forster crossed for Cheek who had a header cleared away as they pressed, with Billy Bingham having a long range shot saved soon after.

Going into injury time Halifax concentrated on seeing the game out and despite another late spell of pressure Bromley just couldn’t find away through, Capello and Harvey Gilmour both being booked for fouls on Forster and he made one final run, with the free kick awarded for the second challenge frustratingly coming to nothing.                                                     

Bromley slip one place to eleventh in the table ahead of their trip to Dorking Wanderers next Saturday, looking to end a run of eight games without a win that sees them now equally ten points off the team in fourth and fourth bottom.      

Bromley: Smith, Reynolds, Hannam (Clayden 74), Webster, Sowunmi, Forster, Bingham, Vennings, Whitely, Cheek, Alexander (Marriott 67).

Subs not used: Bush, Dennis, Arthurs. 

Halifax: Johnson, Senior, Hunter, Summerfield, Golden, Capello, Gilmour, Spence, Dieseruvwe (Harker 68), Cooke (Warburton 72). Alli, Minihan, Osawe. 

Goals; BFC – Cheek 63mins. HTFC – Cooke 65mins. 

Ref: Greg Rollason   

HT 0-0 FT 1-1

Attendance: 2488