Despite dominating play for long spells Bromley had to settle for a point against Gateshead at sunny Hayes Lane on Saturday as The Tynesiders grabbed a late equaliser to secure a draw.
Bromley went into the game unchanged from their midweek win at Boreham Wood and they started the match on the front foot, putting their visitors under real pressure, Adam Marriott went close, Michael Cheek had a goal ruled out for offside and Omar Sowunmi had a shot deflected for a corner all in the opening minutes.
Corey Whitely and Jude Arthurs then set up Bryon Webster whose effort was turned round for another Bromley corner. After the opening fifteen minutes the intensity of The Ravens pressure slowed down and Gateshead started to settle with midfielder Kamil Conteh winning several tackles and Bromley losing the ball too often, as The Heed pressed Owen Bailey had a header saved by Tom Smith from a corner.
The visitors played a really high defensive line all game and they caught Bromley offside on numerous occasions. The Ravens pushed again when Reece Hannam set up Marriott with a superb cross and his header was well saved by Daniel Langley in the Gateshead goal, before James Vennings then played in Ethan Coleman who fired over from the edge of the box.
Late in the half Smith was called up again to make a save from Greg Olley at his near post.
The second half saw Bromley start well again, a Vennings corner found Cheek whos header was saved by Langley, while at the other end Dan Ward set up Adam Campbell who saw his goalbound effort cleared for a corner.
Louis Dennis and Harry Forster then came on for Andy Woodman’s team and immediately provided more attacking impetus, Cheek had another goal ruled out for offside, Forster fired over and Langley denied Cheek again from close range.
Bromley’s breakthrough finally came on 71minutes when a low cross from Forster on the right found Dennis at the far post to turn the ball home and put The Ravens in front. Gateshead rallied again from there, Olley forced a save from Smith as he shot from 18 yards and then on 79 minutes they drew level.
A low cross from Campbell on the right was swept home by Ward who was unmarked in the box. Cheek had a header saved, before The Tynesiders nearly went in front when Billy Bingham narrowly avoided scoring an own goal as he turned Luke Daley’s cross inches wide of his own post.
Late on Cheek played in Dennis who saw his shot saved by Langley and then the keeper kicked the ball away to safety while laying on the ground.
Injury time saw Gateshead run the ball into the corner and see the game out to secure a hard earned point, with Bromley rueing a number of missed chances that could have won them the game.
Bromley are now fifth in the National League, still unbeaten at home as they prepare for the visit of Hereford next Saturday in the FA Cup.
Bromley: Smith, Reynolds, Webster, Sowunmi, Arthurs (Dennis 59), Hannam (Forster 59), Coleman, Vennings, Whitely, Cheek, Marriott (Bingham 78).
Subs Not Used: Bush, Bloomfield.
Gateshead: Langley, Tinkler, Mangay, Daley, Pye, Conreh, Campbell, Olley, Ward (Yussuf 81), Blackett (Jarvis 51).
Subs not Used: Hasani, Mills, Elliott.
HT 0-0 FT 1-1
Ref: Wayne Cartmell
Attendance: 2593