Bromley kicked off 2019 in perfect style with a win over their local rivals in front of the BT Sport cameras at Hayes Lane on New Years Evening with a hard fought display and two more goals from set pieces.
The Ravens started well with Jack Holland hitting the side netting with an early chance, but it was the visitors who took the lead on 11 minutes with their first attempt on goal. A scramble around the edge of the penalty fell to Kenny Davis who hit a low drive into the corner of the net to put Sutton in front.
Bromley responded by continuing to attack with Frankie Raymond firing a free kick over, but it was Brandon Asante-Thomas who nearly made it 2-0 when he curled a shot just wide from distance.
JJ Hooper had a powerful shot saved by former Ravens keeper Jamie Butler as Bromley pushed on and they should have had a penalty when George Porter was shoved to the ground in the box, but Referee Brook waved the appeals away.
Former Bromley striker Brett Williams curled a shot over and he was involved soon after when fouling Porter as he tracked back. From the resulting free kick Marc-Anthony Okoye headed wide at the far post.
A good spell of Ravens pressure and a series of corners eventually paid off for Neil Smith’s side when a Raymond corner was headed back towards goal by Okoye at the the far post for Hopper to bundle the ball home from close range.
Bromley finished the half stronger with Adam Mekki going close twice after good work by Luke Coulson and Porter.
The second half saw Bromley start well again, Coulson went close early on, but Sutton had two great chances when Williams was denied by David Gregory low down with a one handed save and Jonah Ayunga put the rebound wide.
The Ravens continued to press, Porter crossed for Hooper, who had his effort saved by Butler and Coulson put a chance narrowly wide. The game became increasingly more tetchy and the fouls more frequent, as you would expect when rivals meet for the third time in less than three weeks.
Craig Eastmond and Bradley Pearce were both denied by Gregory as Sutton had a good spell and Tom Bolarinwa put a good chance over soon after. At the other end Nicky Bailey was very lucky to escape with a yellow card after a cynical foul on Mekki who was clear on the edge of the box when he was hacked to the ground.
Hooper had a chance saved following good work by Sam Wood, before Bromley grabbed the vital goal with two minutes left. Sub Jake Goodman came on at a corner and with his first touch powerfully headed home from six yards out to put Bromley in front, despite furious appeals from the visitors for a foul on Butler by Hooper.
In injury time there were chances at either end, Eastmond headed a chance to equalise over before Porter saw his shot saved by Butler when one on one, then the final chance fell to Sutton when Williams blazed over from close range much to the relief of the home support.
The win leaves Bromley eight points clear of the bottom four with a home game against AFC Fylde coming up on Saturday and then Wrexham next Tuesday.
Bromley: Gregory, Brindley (Goodman 88), Holland, Okoye, Wood, Mekki (Hines 80), Sutherland, Raymond, Porter, Coulson (Uzokwe 82), Hooper.
Subs Not Used: Bugeil, Johnson.
Sutton: Butler, Bennett, Collins (Beckwith 76), Davis (Toure 90), Ayunga, Eastmond, Bailey, Beautyman, Pearce, Thomas-Asante (Bolarinwa 69), Williams.
Subs Not Used: McQueen, Mason.
Goals: Bromley – Hooper 33mins, Goodman 88mins. Sutton – Davis 11mins
Ref: Mr Carl Brook
HT 1-1 FT 2-1
Att: 1,432