Bromley were just edged out of a close fought encounter by their League One neighbours in an entertaining friendly at very hot and humid Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon.

Neil Harris’ side got off to the perfect start on 2 minutes when a corner from the left was swept home by an un-marked Fred Onyedinma from six yards.

Bromley responded well to the early set back with George Porter having a shot blocked, but too often The Ravens forwards were thwarted by a well drilled Lions offside trap. Millwall had the better of things though, Lee Gregory had a shot from distance well saved by Alan Julian and David Worrall found Shaun Hutchinson with a free kick, but his header was also saved by The Northern Irish custodian.

Gregory hit the post with a header from the resulting corner, before The Ravens were gifted an equaliser on 28 minutes when David Forde was left stranded by a poor back pass and Tobu Sho Silva cashed in converting the loose ball for 1-1.

Parity only lasted a minute though when on their next attack The Lions went back in front when Ben Thompson crossed for Gregory to slot the ball past Julian.

Bromley rallied again Joe Howe crossed for Sho Silva who headed wide and the former Charlton and Inverness forward also had a goal ruled out for offside after Forde was caught in possession and Porter chose to pass back to his strike partner rather than shoot.

Late on Steve Morrison forced a good save from Julian and Worrall had a goal ruled out for offside, but the half ended 1-2 to Millwall.

The second half started well for the visitors with Worrall forcing another save from Julian, but just after Blair Turgott hit the post for Bromley with a free kick and Porter put the rebound narrowly wide.

Then on the hour Millwall changed their entire team and with Bromley making several changes too, the game became dis-jointed with very quiet spells.

Jamie Philpott headed wide from a set piece before Porter put another chance in the side netting and Brad Goldberg had two shots saved by Jordan Archer as The Ravens had a good late spell.

In the end Neil Smith’s side were unable to claw their way back again, but they showed plenty of promise and he will have lots of decisions to make on finalising his squad before the opening National League game in three weeks.

Next up The Ravens travel to three SCEFL sides, Sevenoaks Town on Tuesday, then Glebe on Wednesday and Beckenham Town on Saturday in a busy week of preparation.

 

Goals: Bromley – Sho Silva 28mins. Millwall – Onyedinma, Gregory 29mins.

 

Bromley: Julian, Howe, Anderson, Chorley, Robinson, Prestedge, Sommoutis, Sho Silva, G Porter, Turgott, Martin.

Subs: Swaine, Holland, Johnson, Markahsini, Osbourne, Goldberg, Dymond, M Porter, O’Connor, Hoare, Oyinsan.

Millwall: Forde, Hutchinson, Worrall, Thompson, Gregory, Onyedinma, Romeo, Nelson, Morrison, Abdou, Cheseman.

Subs: Craig, Williams, Wylde, Archer, Webster, O’Brien, Twardek, Philpott, Pavey, Brown, Rooney, Farrell.

Picture supplied by Ed Boyden Photography.