Bromley continued their unbeaten start of the season with a 2-0 win over newly relegated Hartlepool thanks to a fine defensive display and some well constructed counter attacking play.

The game started with a pattern familiar to Bromley fans this season so far as they defended deep and invited Pools on, but kept them at bay with their solid back line.

The closest the visitors came was when former Hamilton Accies left back Blair Adams drove the ball wide from just outside the box.

Bromley had their first shot on goal after half an hour when Louis Dennis drove the ball narrowly wide, but five minutes later The Ravens went in front when some patient build up play around the Hartlepool box eventually saw Dennis set up Josh Rees who coolly slotted home from ten yards out.

Visibly frustrated Pools failed to respond to going behind and their passing clearly suffered as they failed to adapt to the pitch.

The second half saw Hartlepool go close early on when Conor Newton shot wide and Adams went close again soon after, but Bromley slowly came back into things.

Rees put a good chance over the bar after good work by Adam Mekki and the former Tranmere winger went close his self, before The Ravens grabbed their second in slightly controversial style.

A run by Mekki set up Luke Wanadio to strike well struck effort that was bravely blocked by Liam Donnelly who was injured in the process.

As the defender lay in the area the referee chose not to stop play and Bromley continued to press, the ball eventually came to Wanadio again who this time smashed it into the net for 2-0 much to the annoyance of the Pools bench.

Bromley continued to press from there with Dennis going close and Wanadio hitting the post before Mekki put in a dangerous ball across the six yard box that was cleared for a corner.

Late on Hartlepool had a spell of pressure, but Bromley’s back four were too strong for them and they preserved another clean sheet for Neil Smith’s hard working side.

Bromley now sit second in the table with a trip to Ebbsfleet Utd in the Kent Senior Cup up on Tuesday before travelling to Dagenham & Redbridge next Saturday.

Bromley: Gregory, Wynter, Sterling, Holland, Chorley, Mekki, Rees, Sutherland, Wanadio, Dennis (Raymond 86), Porter (Williams 75).

Subs Not Used: Dunne, Johnson, Allen.

Hartlepool: Loach, Mangay, Adams, Featherstone, Harrison, Donaldson, Cassidy, Deverdics (Rodney 66), Lang (Franks 41), Newton.

Subs Not Used: Munns, Woods, Hawkins.

Goals: Bromley – Rees 35, Wanadio 59mins.

Ref: Mr S Yianni

Att: 1,709

HT 1-0 FT2-0