Bromley picked up their first National League win of the season with a battling display against Southend Utd at a sunny Hayes Lane on Bank Holiday Monday. 

With Josh Passley & Cole Kpekawa both suspended, along with Bim Pepple and Soul Kader also out, Jude Arthurs came into the team at wing back and Louis Dennis went up front, while James Vennings returned to the bench. 

Lining up 5-3-2 The Ravens started well enough with some early corners, but it was Southend who had the better chances with Guss Scott-Morris volleying over and Grant Smith making another good save from a corner.

It was as the visitors were pressing that Bromley took the lead, when on a break up field Corey Whitely put Harry Taylor under pressure and the defender under hit his back pass to Collin Andeng Ndi in the Shrimpers goal, which Louis Dennis intercepted, controlled and coolly slotted the ball home to put Andy Woodman’s team in front.

Whitely had a shot from range saved soon after, before the pace of the game slowed for a while. Going into the half both teams had spells of pressure and created half chances, but neither found a way through. 

The start of the second half was delayed due to a broken corner flag, but once it got going Bromley started well with Ben Krauhaus curling an effort narrowly wide.

It was just as Southend started to come back into things that The Ravens struck again, when a long ball up field from Callum Reynolds found Michael Cheek on the edge of the penalty area and he brilliantly controlled the ball before driving it home past Ndi for 2-0.

Any breathing space for the home side was reduced only a minute later though when a half cleared corner came out to Noor Husin on the right, who drove the ball home at the net post from a tight angle to pull it back to 2-1.

The lively former Bromley winger Jack Bridge then crossed for Husin who this time saw his header well saved by Smith. The home keeper was booked soon after for time wasting at a goal kick as The Ravens looked to run down the clock.

Dan Mooney forced another save from Smith with Southend pressing for an equaliser, while at the other end Cheek set up Dennis who was denied by Ndi.

For the last 15 minutes it was all Southend, Kevin Maher’s team pressing constantly for a leveller with Bridge pulling the strings down the left.

Whitely and Arthurs made two superb runs from their own half to ease the pressure temporarily, before Smith made a great one handed save from Jack Wood and Bromley had to dig in to defend a series of corners and set pieces with Besart Topalloj making one great block and Smith dealing well with numerous crosses into the box.

The Ravens did hold and out after eight minutes injury time the whistle finally went to confirm their first win of the new campaign. 

Bromley: Smith, Arturs, Reynolds, Webster, Okoli, Topalloj, Woods, Whitely, Krauhuas (Vennings 65), Cheek, Dennis (Marriott 71). Subs Not Used: Miller, Paul-Lavely, Sharman-Lowe. 

Southend: Ndi, Scott-Morris (Demetriou 80), Ralph, Cardwell, Bridge, Kensdale, Husin, Mooney (Wood 71), Taylor, Miley, Fonguck (Coker 61). Subs Not Used: Powell. 

Goals: BFC – Dennis 18, Cheek 55mins. SUFC – Husin 56mins. 

Referee: Kirsty Dowle. 

HT 1-0 FT 2-1 

Att: 3388