On an afternoon of defensive errors Bromley and Aldershot shared the points in this open and entertaining match at Hayes Lane on Saturday, a result that left the visitors with only a very slim chance of staying up.   

Bromley started on the front foot and went 1-0 up after only 3minutes when Shots’ Keeper Will Mannion spilled the ball as he tried to throw it out straight to the feet of JJ Hooper who coolly slid the ball into the empty net from the edge of the box.

This was exactly the kind of luck a team threatened with relegation has and they struggled to get going for a while with The Ravens pressing, Frankie Sutherland had a goal bound shot blocked and Marc-Anthony Okoye headed a corner wide. Aldershot finally settled and they drew level on 25minutes when a cross from the right was mis-controlled by Sam Wood and the ball fell to Reece Grant who placed his shot past David Gregory to equalise from ten yards out.

Luke Coulson went close with a shot across goal and then Wood was soon on attacking duty when he combined well with George Porter before unleashing a powerful effort that Mannion did well to push over the bar. From the corner Reeco Hackett suffered a head injury and had to be replaced before the half time whistle, a real shame for the Charlton youngster who has been in great form.

The second half saw Coulson set up Omar Bugeil whose shot was saved by Mannion, but it was Aldershot who took the lead on 52minutes when the ball fell to Luke Howell who drove it high into the top corner of the net from 25 yards out giving Gregory no chance to make it 2-1.

The Ravens battled back though when Sutherland had a shot tipped wide and Bugeil headed the corner off target. Then just after the hour a wayward pass from Shots’ goal scorer Howell fell to Hooper who again took full advantage crashing the ball into the net from just outside the box to level the scores.

The Ravens then pressed for a winner as Frankie Raymond sent in a great ball to Okoye who headed over and Bugeil was denied by Mannion when well placed soon after. The game opened up and play flowed from end to end, Aldershot sub Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong was denied by Gregory while at the other end Bugeil put a good chance wide after great work by Brendon Wiredu down the right.

Late on Bugeil was booked for diving as Bromley pressed and Hooper was just off target after a quick passing move, but in the end the match ended all square leaving The Shots’ National League status in a very precarious position and Neil Smith’s side thirteenth in the table as they prepare for the trip to Halifax Town next Saturday.

Bromley: Gregory, Brindley, Wood, Okoye, Holland, Coulson, Sutherland (Wiredu 69), Raymond, Porter (Higgs 74), Hooper, Hackett (Bugeil 41). Subs Not Used: Dunne, Craske.

Aldershot: Mannion, McDonnell, Howell (Rowe 67), Rendell (McDonnagh 90), Bernard, Gallagher (Berkeley-Agyepong 80), Mensah, Menayese, Finney, Grant, Goddard. Subs not Used: McClure, McCoy.

Goals: Bromley – Hooper 3 & 62mins, Aldershot –  Grant 25mins, Howell 52mins.

Ref: Mr Lloyd Wood

HT 1-1 FT 2-2

Att: 1,524