In front of a bumper half term crowd Bromley fell to defeat against league leaders Stockport County at a wet Hayes Lane on Tuesday night conceding three goals in the second half before grabbing a late consolation.
The game got off to a lively start with play flowing from end to end, but there were no real chances. As the half went on Stockport began to have more possession and press The Ravens, Paddy Madden having a shot deflected wide for a corner and then seeing a good header well saved by Mark Cousins in the home goal.
Ash Palmer also had a header saved by Cousins before Chris Bush made a superb block to deny Madden and then Will Collar shot over from range.
Late in the half Bromley had a good spell with a deep Corey Whitely cross headed back across goal by Michael Cheek, but George Alexander couldn’t connect with the ball at the far post.
In truth this was an isolated incident with The Ravens denied any time or space on the ball when going forward for the most part.
The second half saw Stockport start on the front foot, Myles Hippolyte having a long range shot saved by Cousins and Madden seeing an effort deflect over for a corner. Scott Wagstaff & Jude Arthurs were both booked as Bromley tried to be more physical and Wagstaff was lucky not to get a second yellow soon after before being subbed immediately after the foul.
Collar went close for The Hatters and Scott Quigley was denied by Cousins before the visitors finally got their breakthrough on 62 minutes. Macauley Southam-Hales crossing from the right for Madden to powerfully head home from six yards out unchallenged to make it 1-0.
Andy Woodman changed to a 3-4-3 formation from there, but it was to no effect as it soon became 2-0 when Bush lost the ball on the half way line and Quigley raced clear before drilling a 30 yard shot past Cousins high into the net to double the Stockport lead.
Bromley changed shape again, this time back to 3-5-2, but again it made little difference, Collar & Hippolyte had shots saved by Cousins before Stockport made it 3-0 on 83 minutes, Madden being given space and time to crash home from ten yards out in a crowded area as the home defence hesitated.
Late on Bromley rallied and pulled one back when a half cleared set piece came out to Byron Webster who drove the ball into the roof of the net from 30 yards out to make it 1-3.
The Ravens almost pulled another back when James Alabi played in Whitely in injury time, but his shot skimmed narrowly wide of the far post and the final whistle sounded soon after.
The loss sees Bromley slip one place to fifth ahead of their trip to King’s Lynn Town on Saturday, while Dave Challinor’s impressive Stockport side now sit three points clear at the top of the table.
Bromley: Cousins, Bush, Webster, Sowunmi, Arthurs (Alabi 67), Bingham, Wagstaff (Trotter 60), Whitely, Coulson, Alexander (Cawley 77), Cheek.
Subs Not Used: Partington, Parsons.
Stockport: Hinchcliffe, Hogan, Palmer, Collar, Rydel (Kitching 81), Johnson, Sotham-Hales, Croasdale, Hippolyte, Quigley (Jennings 90), Madden.
Subs Not Used: Minihan, Newby, Crankshaw.
Goals: Bromley – Webster 90mins. Stockport – Madden 64 & 85mins, Quigley 71mins.
Att: 2,753
HT 0-0 FT 1-3
Ref: Adrian Quelch.