Bromley started their FA Trophy campaign for the season with a Third Round win at home to Hemel Hempstead Town on Tuesday night at Hayes Lane thanks to a goal in either half from Harry Forster.
With Neil Smith resting Michael Cheek, Joe Kizzi and Reeco Hackett, The Ravens fielded a slightly different looking side with Luke Coulson slotting in at right back in 4-4-2.
The game got off to a lively start with James Alabi playing in Ben Williamson whose shot was well saved by Dean Snedker and the Hemel keeper also made a good save from a Chris Bush free kick soon after.
National League South Hemel also posed an attacking threat, getting the ball out wide, but they were unable to break through the home defence.
With the game opening up it was Bromley who took the lead when Williamson played in Forster who beat three defenders and then coolly slotted the ball past Snedker for 1-0 on 22 minutes.
Billy Bingham’s excellent distribution was The Ravens main form of attack hitting the wide men with great diagonal passes.
Forster set up Luke Coulson who fired over, before Hemel had their first effort on goal when Samir Curruthers curled an effort just wide from the edge of the box.
Late on Bromley were denied a penalty when Alabi appeared to be brought down by Paco Craig, but referee Durkin waved the appeals away and then Snedker made a comfortable save from a speculative Frankie Raymond free kick from 40 yards out.
The Ravens started The second half well with Forster crossing for Williamson who just failed to connect with the ball. Liam Trotter then set up Williamson who was denied by a sliding save from Snedker.
The pressure finally paid off on the hour when Byron Webster found Trotter out wide who beat a man and then crossed for Forster to convert from ten yards out and make it 2-0.
Raymond went close soon after, but following a change of formation the visitors had a good spell with Jonathan Lacey having a shot well saved by Mark Cousins low down to his left.
Josh Oyinsan then saw a powerful drive cannon back off the bar and Cousins made a great save to deny Lacey from the rebound.
Late on Neil Smith introduced Tom Purrington and Liam Vincent for their debuts with Purrington having a shot blocked on the line following a good ball from Bush. Bush then played in Coulson who crossed for Forster but he narrowly missed his hatrick when he fired inches wide.
In the final few minutes Hemel had two great chances to get a goal back, but Oyinsan drove over when under pressure from Kory Roberts and then Oyinsan set up Lacey who scuffed a great chance wide from close range.
Neil Smith’s side now face Woking at home in next round, but prior to that they have a busy a Christmas schedule starting with a home game against Sutton Utd on Boxing Day.
Bromley: Cousins, Cousins, Bush, Roberts, Webster, Coulson, Raymond, Bingham (Purrington 72), Forster, Williamson, Alabi (Vincent 81).
Subs Not Used: Maloney, Najia, Holland.
Hemel: Snedker, Balogun (Oyinsan 68), Sellers, Howells (Ajayi 60), Kinnane, Craig, Curruthers, Manton, Webb (Bateman 45), Lacey, Young.
Subs Not Used: Boness, Bircham.
Goals: Forster 22 & 59mins.
Ref: James Durkin