If there was ever a game that served an example of how quickly things can change in football it was the first 15 minutes of the second half in this match, with Bromley looking to have clawed their way back into things then were then reduced to ten men and conceded twice in the space of three minutes and left with no way back.

The first half saw Dagenham start the brighter with an early chance scrambled away, Bromley tried to respond but found no way through the strong Daggers defence and they eventually fell behind on 14 minutes.

A loose ball in midfield was picked up by Corey Whitely and he was given time and space to bring the ball forward before unleashing an unstoppable drive from twenty five yards past Alan Julian.

The Ravens rallied again Dave Martin fired wide before the home side created their best chance of the half when Blair Turgot sent in a superb cross for Tobi Sho Silva, but the big striker headed the ball over the bar from close range. Dagenham dominated the midfield and had long spells of possession creating chances along the way, Jordan Magiure-Drew fired over and Julian was on hand to make saves from Fejiri Okenabirhie and Oliver Hawkins.

Scot Doe forced another save from Julian soon after and the Bromley custodian was also required to play the role of sweeper when clearing the ball from Okenabirhie’s deflected shot. Late in the half Bromley came back into things, Andre Boucaud was lucky to stay on the field after appearing to push Martin when already on a yellow card for an earlier incident with the Ravens’ winger, but urged on the home side came close to drawing level when Turgot had a volley saved by Elliott Justham and also fired another long range effort narrowly over the bar.

After a lengthy delay for an injury to a match official the second half got going with Bromley looking the brighter side and they equalised on 50minutes when Martin’s corner was powerfully headed home by Rob Swaine. The Ravens pressed again from the kick off, but after losing the ball deep in The Daggers half the visitors broke quickly up field, Swaine brought down Okenabirhie, but the referee waved play on and Hawkins took the ball on before sending over a great cross which was swept home by Maguire-Drew just inside the box.

As the away side celebrated the goal Swaine was shown a second yellow card and sent off leaving Bromley not only trailing again to the league leaders, but with ten men. As The Ravens struggled to find a new shape emergency left back Martin was caught out by Hawkins on the bye line and he then brought down for a penalty. Hawkins sent Julian the wrong way to make it 3-1 on 55minutes and the game was over. Maguire-Drew had one free kick saved by Julian and the a dipping cross shot palmed over soon after as The Daggers passed the ball round for fun.

At times it seemed like a training ground ‘keep ball’ session with Bromley chasing shadows until the final quarter of an hour when Neil Smith’s men fought their way into the game again. Turgot was again the catalyst intercepting a wayward pass and firing over before a Joe Anderson cross was headed across goal to Sho-Silva, but this time the club’s leading scorer sent the ball over the bar from a few yards out as it bounced off his thigh. With the opportunity to pull a goal back spurned, The Daggers finished the game comfortably as Boucaud went close twice and Whitely shot just off target.

John Still’s men looked like champions in the making as they executed the perfect away performance, while Bromley will now have to regroup and look to restore some confidence ahead of the Kent Senior Cup game at home to Maidstone United on Tuesday and a trip to Southport next weekend.

Bromley: Julian, Holland, Swaine, Chorley, Anderson, Turgot, M Porter (Goldberg 75), Prestedge, Martin, Sho Silva, Pavey (Dymond 56). Subs Not Used: Howe, Johnson, Higgs.

Dagenham: Justham, Widdowson, Doe, Robinson, Raymond, Okenabirhie, Hawkins, Maguire-Drew, Boucaud (Howell 90), Whitely, Staunton. Subs Not Used:

Goals: Bromley – Swaine 50mins. Dagenham – Whitely 14, Maguire-Drew 52, Hawkins pen 55mins.

Referee: Mr C O’Donnell

HT 0-1 FT 1-3

Attendance: 1,558

Images courtesy of www.edboydenphotos.co.uk