In the game between the two sides who called Hayes Lane home it was National League Bromley who came out on top with a goal either side of half time on a swelteringly hot lunchtime kick off against Bostik League Division One South East Cray Wanderers.

The Raven lining up 5-3-2 started brightly with Reec Meekums and Jake Goodman having efforts saved by Nick Blue in The Wands goal. Cray battled back using their usual 4-3-2-1 formation they moved the ball round nicely, but struggled to make the final ball count around the Bromley box. The battle down the left between Cray winger Aaron Rhule and Bromley captain Jack Holland was entertaining all on it’s own.

The Ravens created a good chance midway through the half when Tobi Adebayo-Rowling combined with George Porter to set up Meekums, but he put his effort wide across goal from the far post. Bromley suffered a blow when Omar Bugeil limped off on 25minutes, leaving Porter up front on his own.

After a quiet spell The Ravens took a late lead when Kyle Da Siilva appeared to foul Mitchell Nelson, but as the referee waved play on the young midfielder raced to the loose ball and set up Bobby-Joe Taylor who slotted the ball under Blue to make it 1-0 on 44minutes.

The second half saw Bromley come out looking to press and they were 2-0 up on 49minutes when Adeboayo-Rowling crossed for Dan Johnson to score with a stooping header at the far post.

After a spell on controlled play from The Ravens, Cray striker Michael Power had a shot saved by David Gregory and Barney Williams went close as The Wands fought back. Power fired over from a tight angle after a good move down the right, but Cray’s momentum was halted ten minutes from time when Zak Henry was sent off for raising his hands to Frankie Raymond. In Henry’s last game for Cray he was also sent off in the play off semi final last May.

Despite also losing Ambrose Gnahore to injury, Bromley finished the game on top with Academy players Klaudio Kraniqui and Aiden Enver shooting just off target, and the final act was for Blue to make a great save from Enver’s 25 yard free kick on the whistle.

This was a good run out for both sides, with Cray not looking like a side that was three divisions lower than Bromley and some good displays from some of Neil Smith’s new signings for The Ravens.

Bromley: Gregory, Adebayo-Rowling, D Johnson, Holland, R Johnson, Goodman, De Silva, Raymond, Bugeil, Porter, Meekums.

Subs: O’Halloran, Enver, Taylor, Gnahore, Kraniqui, Kalala.

Cray: Blue, Dadson, Williams, Evans, Nelson, Pritchard, Roberts, Kapsokostas, Power, Rhule, Frederico.

Subs: Henry, Vidal, Hallett, Early, Brefo.

Goals; Bromley – Taylor 44, D Johnson 49mins.

Referee: Mr A Ajibola