Table topping Bromley took on play off chasing Bath City at Hayes Lane and it was a thoroughly entertaining game between two good footballing sides.

The game got off to an open start with both teams looking to attack and move the ball round quickly, but there were also late challenges and some off the ball stuff to keep Referee My Hyde busy.

The visitors took the initiative on 14 minutes when a free kick from the right was headed home by left wingback Dan Ball at the far post.

The Ravens responded well though and were level on five minutes later when a great cross from Pierre Joseph-Dubois was knocked down by Jay May for Bradley Goldberg to volley home from ten yards with a sweet finish.

Bromley had a good spell following the equaliser with Danny Waldren having a shot deflected wide and Jack Holland heading just off target from a corner.

Bath City’s back three held up well to the challenge though and The Romans battled their way back into things with Phil Walsh firing wide and Josh Low having an effort saved by Joe Welch’s out stretched foot when well placed to score.

Late in the half Bromley had another good spell of pressure, Goldberg had a powerful effort tipped away by Jason Mellor when it may have been more prudent to square the ball to Dubois who was free on the edge of the six yard box.

Dubois himself was guilty of a bad miss soon after when Ali Fuseini played in the Frenchman only for him to shoot wide.

The second half saw The Ravens start on top Fuseini curled a 20 yarder just over the bar and Joe Anderson had a shot saved by Mellor before the home side took the lead on 50 minutes.

Fuseini chipped a ball into the path of Waldren who caught the ball perfectly on the volley from just inside the box sending the ball sailing into the roof of the net for 2-1.

Mark Goldberg’s men suffered a major blow just after the hour when skipper Rob Swaine limped off.

The Ravens should have put the game beyond doubt when sub Brendan Kiernan took the ball round Mellor only to see his shot blocked by Sekani Simpson who hacked it away to safety.

Bath cashed in on the new look Bromley back line when on 66 minutes the opened up the defence with some slick passing and Andy Watkins coolly slotted the ball past Welch into the corner of the net to equalise.

Bromley pushed to regain their lead late on with May missing a good chance from an Albert Jarrett cross, Goldberg forcing a save from Mellor when latching on to a free kick at the far post and in injury time Waldren had a powerful header saved by Mellor from a Jarrett corner.

In the end a draw was probably a fair reflection on this fine match.

 

Bromley: Welch, Poolley, Anderson, Swaine (Parmenter 62), Holland, Dubois (Kiernan 59), Waldren, Fuseini, Jarrett, May (McDonnell 81), Goldberg.

Subs Not Used: Nicholls, Buchanan.

Bath: Mellor, Simpson, Ball, Gallinnagh, Bowman (Stearn 59), Walsh, Allen, Connolly, Low, Watkins, Keats.

Subs Not Used: Brown, Wilson, Burnell, Rollo.

 

Goals:  Bromley – Bradley Goldberg 19mins, Danny Waldren 50mins.

Bath –  Dan Ball 14mins, Watkins 66mins.

Match Rating:  5/5

Star Man: Danny Waldren (Bromley)

Referee: Mr Hyde

Att: 857