Bromley bowed out of the FA Cup at the first time of asking on a frustrating afternoon at Hayes Lane on Saturday, losing to fellow National League side Eastleigh who just edged a tight close fought game.

The visitors started the game on top and were in front on 3 minutes when Joe Partington knocked down a deep cross for Yemi Odubade to score from close range.

Odubade went close again soon after as The Spitfires were dominant, before The Ravens finally settled into the game.

Antony Cook sparked the home side into life with a strong run from midfield and powerful shot just over the bar and he had another goal bound shot blocked soon after.

Cook and Moses Emmanuel combined to set up Louis Dennis who shot narrowly over and Ben Chorley almost finished off a great run, but shot final shot was cleared.

Emmanuel had a shot saved by Ross Flitney and Bromley should have had a penalty when Cook was brought down in the box by Dan Harding, but Referee Mr Lugg was unmoved.

Late in the half Eastleigh broke dangerously twice with Jack Midson shooting just wide and Jai Reason forcing a save from Chris Kettings with a low drive from ten yards.

Bromley came out flying in the second half Ugo Udoji set up Emmanuel who fired wide, Dennis went close and Emmanuel hit the side netting after latching on to a superb Reece Prestedge ball.

The breakthrough for the home side came just after the hour when Dennis showed great control and skill to create space on the edge of the box before blasting the ball past Flitney and high into the net to equalise.

For a while it looked like Mark Goldberg’s side would go on to win the game with Jack Holland and Emmanuel combining well and Emmanuel looked to have been pushed in the box by Harding when chasing a loose ball, but once again the referee waved away the appeals for a spot kick.

Then came the killer blow from Eastleigh, Reason picked the ball up on the touchline 35 yards from goal and send in a speculative cross shot that managed to evade everyone and leave Kettings flat footed, seemingly distracted by an incoming forward, as it bounced past him into the corner of the net.

Emmanuel went close again with fierce half volley as the home side responded, but Bromley were constantly frustrated by the well drilled Spitfires offside trap.

For the final ten minutes Goldberg went with three up front, but there was to be no joy for The Ravens with Holland missing a half chance.

Late on Josh Payne hit a powerful strike that saw Kettings make a good save as the visitors finished strongly to secure their place in the first round draw on Monday.

It remains to be seen what financial implications will come from this early cup exit, but Bromley now have a week to recover and prepare for a difficult looking trip to Lincoln City next Saturday in the National League.

 

Bromley: Kettings, Udoji (Minshull 80), Anderson, Swaine, Chorley, Cook, Fuseini, Prestedge (Goldberg 80), Dennis, Emmanuel Holland.

Subs Not Used: Francis, Tumwa, Rodgers, Stanic-Stewart.

Eastleigh: Flitney, Partington, Evans, Turley, Odubade, Payne, Reason, Midson (Lafayette 72), Strevens, Drury, Harding.

Subs Not Used: Green, Noice, Alexander, Lee, Cook.

Goals: Bromley – Dennis 63mins, Eastleigh – Odubade 3, Reason 78mins.

HT 0-1 FT 1-2

Ref: Nigel Lugg