Bromley and MK Dons shared the points on a sunny late September afternoon at Hayes Lane on Saturday.
Lining up 5-4-1 Bromley started the game looking to be positive, but they fell behind early on when MK Dons, playing their first game under new manager Scott Lindsay, broke down the right and Callum Reynolds was out muscled by Tommy Leigh who then crossed for Joe Tomlnson to convert from close range unmarked at the far post.
The Dons looked to open up The Ravens down their left at every opportunity and it took a while for Andy Woodman’s side to settle into the game.
Eventually Bromley got going and they were level halfway through the first half when that familiar combination of Corey Whitely and Michael Cheek teamed up again, with Whitely playing in Cheek who coolly converted his fifth league goal of the season to make it 1-1, curling the ball past Tom McGill from the edge of the area.
Ben Thompson then had a shot saved soon after following a slick passing move through midfield, before the game went through a quiet spell. Late on in the half, Tomlinson had a shot from a corner saved by Grant Smith after good work by Liam Kelly, but the scored remained tied.
The second half saw MK Dons start on top, Alex Gilbey fired over early on before Bromley came back into things. Danny Imray had a shot saved by McGill at his near post and Cameron Congreve curled a shot just wide from 25 yards out.
For The Dons Gilbey volleyed a great chance over when in acres of space and as the visitors pressed, Leigh and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans had shots saved by the excellent Smith.
Gilbey then set up Tomlinson who shot wide, before Woodman made changes to Bromley’s shape going with two up front. Tomlinson turned a chance wide at the far post from a deep Kelly cross as Bromley struggled to get going and kept giving the ball way when in possession.
The Ravens did create one chance when Imray crossed for Cheek, but his shot was blocked on the line and cleared to safety. For the final few minutes it was all MK Dons, with Bromley pushed really deep.
Smith got hurt when punching a cross clear and had to undergo lengthy treatment before the final whistle, which also saw Marcus Dinanga receiving treatment after full time for what looked like an ankle injury .
The draw was a fair result over the piece, neither side doing enough to win the game and they both stay in eighteenth & nineteenth on eight points.
The Ravens now focus on their next game against Chesterfield at Hayes Lane on Tuesday night.
Bromley – Smith, Imray, Sowunmi, Reynolds, Grant (Topalloj 45), Odutayo, Charles (Leigh 72), Congreve (Dinanga 72), Whitely, Thompson, Cheek. Sibs Not Used: Amantchi, Jenkinson, Long, Webster.
MK Dons – McGill, Maguire, Offord, Tucker, Tomlinson (White 88), Williams, Lemonheigh-Evans, Nemane (Ilunga 66), Gilbey, Leigh (Finch 88), Kelly. (Carroll 88). Subs not Used: Harness, Lewington, Tripp.
HT 1-1 FT 1-1
Goals – BFC – Cheek 22 mins. MKDFC – Tomlinson 7mins.
Referee: Lee Swabey
ATT: 3,522