Bromley booked their place in this season’s Kent Reliance Senior Cup Semi Final by just edging Margate at a chilly Hayes Lane on Tuesday night.

Fielding a mixed line up of first teamers and academy players Neil Smith’s side got off to a lively start, Ben Williams and Ola Williams had efforts saved by Patrick Lee and Ben Wynter fired just wide.

Liam Enver-Marum had Margate’s best chance, but his attempt at a chip over Kristupas Burba was saved by the young keeper.

The game then slowed for a while before The Ravens picked up the pace later in the half. A Wynter long ball was flicked towards goal by Williams, but cleared off the line and Williams then had two more efforts just of target following good work by Iffy Allen.

Dominic Vose hit a free kick was just off target late on, but the game remained scoreless.

Margate started the second half well, Matt Bodkin put a long range effort just wide and Harvey Killick forced a save from Burba.

Bromley responded with Marlon Peter-Brown having an effort saved by Lee at the near post and Williams heading wide from a Luke Wanadio cross.

The breakthrough finally came on 64 minutes when Ben Chroley and Allen combined to set up sub Tahjae Anderson to convert from close range.

After going behind Margate rallied, Sidney Warden was just off target before they drew level on 68 minutes when James O’Halloran crossed for Bodkin to head home at the far post.

Parity only lasted two minutes though as Bromley went back in front when Wynter found Williams with a superb pass  from deep that the striker then did well to control and make space on the edge of the box before powering the ball past Lee for 2-1.

Anderson nearly made it three soon after when he headed a Allen cross wide and the striker then put a free kick a couple of feet over the bar from 20 yards.

Late on Margate had a good spell of pressure with a series of corners, which The Ravens defence managed to keep out, but then Spencer Cripps had a low driven shot saved by Lee at the other end.

The final chance of the match came to the visitors when Jack Bray headed a free kick just wide of the post, but in the end Bromley did just enough to win the cup tie despite a spirited display from the men from the Kent coast.

 

Bromley: Burba, Peter-Brown, Chorley (Kalala 66), Allen, Cripps, B Williams (Enver 78), Wynter, Johnson, Wanadio (Anderson 62), Vose, O Williams.

Subs Not Used: Lovely, Baskerville.

Margate: Lee, Killick, Fox (Ikeije 73), Hume (Lindsey 57), Fitchett, Bray, Bodkin, Rudd (Priddle 88), Enver-Marum, Warden, O’Halloran.

Subs Not Used: Ford, Frimpong.

Goals: Bromley – Anderson 64, Williams 74mins. Margate – Bodkin 72mins.

HT 0-0 FT 2-1

Ref: Mr K Dempster