Despite having taken an early lead Bromley suffered their second defeat in a row as their winless National League start to 2024 continued with a 2-1 loss at home to Hartlepool Utd at Hayes Lane on Saturday.      

Andy Woodman brought in two of his four new signings into the starting line up for the game, with Ashley Charles & Kamarl Grant making their debuts, setting up in the usual 5-3-2 formation and The Ravens made a positive start.

An early shout for handball in the area from a Josh Passley cross was waved away by Referee Jason Richardson, but Bromley did take the lead on 8 minutes when Corey Whitely broke down the left and crossed for Michael Cheek to side foot home from six yards out for 1-0.

Bromley had another penalty shout denied when Besart Topalloj appeared to be fouled just inside the area when on a strong run, but from there Pools rallied. Courtney Senior fired just wide from an Emmauel Dierseruwvwe knock down and Callum Cooke fired over from range with game opening up.

Grant went on a surging run from defence and set up Cheek but Joel Dixon made a brave save at the striker’s feet and Dixon then made a great stop to deny Whitely at his near post after good work from Olufela Olomola.

With Bromley looking like they were getting the upper hand again, Hartlepool struck on the break with an equaliser, Cooke crossing from the right for Dierseruwvwe to guide the ball home with a towering header above the static home defence.

Ravens keeper Grant Smith required lengthy treatment following the goal having collided with the post in his attempts to keep the ball out. Both sides had chances late in the half, Charles almost capped his debut with a goal when his free kick was brilliantly tipped over by Dixon, while Joe Grey went close for Pools from range, right on the whistle Grant connected to a Passley cross, heading just wide for Bromley.

The second half saw Hartlepool start well, Smith making a great double save to deny Tom Crawford and Tom Parkes from close range, before Grant then played in Ben Krauhaus whose volley was saved by Dixon.

Kevin Phillips’ side still looked the most like to score though and after Senior fired across goal from a tight angle, they did take the lead on the hour mark when Grey broke down the left and his low powerful cross was turned into his own goal by Grant from the edge of the six yard box as he tried to clear.

Woodman tried to regain the attacking impetus with the introduction of Levi Amantchi for his debut up front and soon after Charles’ cross from the right was headed just wide by Topalloj, but after Pools sub Brennan Dickenson had seen a shot saved by Smith the pace of the game slowed and Bromley seemed to drop deeper.

With a change in Bromley’s shape Louis Dennis came on for Grant who had looked good in patches on his first game on loan from Millwall, but had also been booked and unfortunate enough to score an own goal.

Cooke rattled the bar when connecting with a Grey pass and the visitors also could have added a third when a mix up between Webster and Smith almost set up Dierseruwvwe, before Alex Kirk cleared. Late on Bromley tried to push forward and were denied a third penalty appeal when a Passley cross appeared to strike a Pools hand in the area, but again Mr Richardson was unmoved.

Charles had a free kick saved by Dixon who gathered the ball at the second attempt when under pressure, but other than that the home side ran out of ideas and Hartlepool saw the game out happy to hit the ball long upfield and clear their lines. 

Despite the poor recent form Bromley still remain in second place nine points ahead of Altrincham in fourth, but Alty do have three games in hand. The Ravens take a break from the National League campaign next Saturday as they entertain Aveley in the fifth round of the FA Trophy.

Bromley: Smith, Passley, Grant (Dennis 77),  Webster, Kirk, Topalloj, Whitely, Charles, Krauhaus, Olomola (Amantchi 63), Cheek. Subs Not Used: Woods, Weston, Orlowski. 

Hartlepool: Dixon, Hendrie, Waterfall, Parkes, Ferguson, Crawford, Featherstone, Senior (Dickenson 71), Cooke (Wallace 89), Grey, Dierseruwvwe. Subs Not Used: Jmeson, Burton, Onariase.   

Goals: BFC – Cheek 8mins. HUFC – Dierseruwvwe 27, Owne Goal 60mins. 

HT 1-1 FT 1-2 

Att: 3,028  

Referee: Jason Richardson