Bromley exited the FA Cup at the first time of asking on Saturday as National League North Hereford ran out 2-1 winners at a blustery and wet Hayes Lane, with the home side yet again left to rue their profligacy in front of goal.
The Ravens weren’t into the game almost full strength, but it was the visitors who started on top with some early pressure before Bromley settled into the match.
Once Andy Woodman’s side got going, Michael Cheek had a shot saved and Omar Sowunmi went close with a flick on from a long Chris Bush throw.
Adam Marriott then set up Louis Dennis who cut the ball back to Cheek, but the out of salts striker hit the underside of the bar from close range, with Billy Bingham’s effort from the rebound blocked by a host of Hereford defenders.
The Bulls keeper Dale Eve almost gifted The Ravens a goal when he slipped in posession of the ball, but he redeemed himself with a brave save at the feet of Marriott.
With Bromley still pressing Bish crossed for Reece Hannam who headed wide, before Hereford had a good spell. Harry Pinchard playing in the pacey Ryan McLean who fired over, before Tyrone Barnett headed wide from a Jared Hodgkiss ball.
The Bromley defence found McLean to be a real handful with his pace for the whole game. Late in the half Bromley rallied again, Harry Forster crossed for Louis Dennis whose powerful drive was saved by Eve just under the bar, Forster then drove over from a tight angle and from a poor goal kick Dennis was narrowly wide from long range.
The second half saw Bromley start well with a series of corners, but Hereford went close when Storey fired over from range. Marriott went close with a header from a Forster cross, before the visitors took the lead from free kick. Pinchard curling a superb ball over the wall and just inside the far post leaving Tom Smith stranded.
Woodman rang the changes from there, Youth team player Lateef Adaja came on up front and his pace caused Hereford problems with Aaron Amadi booked for a foul on the Under 18 forward as he raced past him.
Bromley pressed to find an equaliser, Dennis had a free kick saved after good work by Sowunmi and Hannam and Adaja had a shot blocked after some great link up play from Dennis and Hannam.
On a rare break up field McLean chipped Smith, but his dinked effort landed on the roof of the net. Bromley then mounted another spell of incessant pressure and eventually they drew level on 73 minutes when sub Corey Whitely ran into the box before finding the corner of the net from twelve yards out.
Miles Storey’s driven shot was punched away by Smith, before The Ravens pressed again now looking for a winner. Cheek played in Adaja whose shot was saved by Eve when one on one and Ethan Coleman headed a Whitely cross wide.
Then as the game entered injury time Hereford started to cause Bromley problems again, a free kick from Pinchard fell to Amadi only for him to be denied by a save from Smith, but from the resulting corner The Bulls went back in front when a scramble in the box saw the ball fall to Orrin Pendley who smashed it home from close range past a static Bromley defence.
With torrential rain falling, The Ravens pressed again, Hannam fired wide, before Whitely crossed for Sowunmi who saw his shot blocked at the far post for a corner. Everyone including Smith was up in the box for the final set piece of the tie, but Hereford cleared the danger and Referee Oliver Mackey signalled full time.
The Bulls now progress to the first round proper of the FA Cup, while Bromley have to re-group ahead of their trip to Chesterfield next Saturday.
Bromley: Smith, Bush, Webster (Whitely 64), Sowunmi, Hannam, Forster, Bingham (Vennings 82), Coleman, Dennis Marriott (Adaja 52), Cheek.
Subs Not Used: Boylan, Reynolds, Arthurs, Alexander.
Hereford: Eve, Hodgkiss, Evans, Haines (Klukowski82), McLean, Amadi Pinchard, Storey (Caton 80), Hanson, Pendley, Barnett (Campbell 93).
Subs Not Used: Derricott, Osment, Davies, Johnson.
HT 0– FT 1-2
Goals; BFC – Whitely 72mins. HFC Pinchard 52, Pendley 92mins.
Referee: Mr Oliver Mackey