Bromley came away from their second EFL Trophy Group C South game with no points, as they were beaten by an impressive young Chelsea side at Hayes Lane on Tuesday night.
Lining up 5-3-2 Bromley tried to start the game on the front foot, but found themselves behind after only 3 minutes when a scramble in the box saw the ball fall to Donnell McNeilly who turned the ball home to put The Blues in front.
It only took two more minutes for The Ravens to respond though, when a cross from Cameron Congreve was headed towards goal by Omar Sowunmi and after Max Merrick had made an initial save, Levi Amntchi pounced on the rebound to make it 1-1 from close range.
With Chelsea’s keeper Merrick playing high up the field, there were a few nervy moments, but in general they played some fantastic football at pace, that saw Bromley chasing the ball for long spells.
When Bromley did get going Marcus Dinanga dragged a shot wide, but the Chelsea counter attack was always a threat. For The Blues Harvey Vale had a free kick saved by Sam Long, who was also on hand to deny Shumaira Mheuka’s header soon after.
Mheuka then hit the post before Vale converted the rebound to put the visitors 2-1 up.
After the game drifted for a while, late on in the half Amantchi headed a free kick wide, but Felipe Coelho’s side lead at the break.
The second half saw Chelsea start well, Mheuka had a shot saved by Long after a sharp turn on the edge of the area and Brodi Hughes saw his goal bound effort blocked by Sowunmi.
The Ravens came back into things as the half went on, Sowunmi having a header from a Lewis Leigh corner blocked and having another deflected wide into the side netting.
With the game wide open, Long saved at the feet of Vale, but Vale wouldn’t be denied soon after when he rolled the ball into the corner of the net following a slick passing move down the right to make it 3-1 on 78 minutes.
Bromley did battle back soon after though, when a set pice came out to Ashley Charles who hit an unstoppable 40 yard drive that crashed into the back for the net to make it 3-2.
From there Chelsea did well to control most of the last ten minutes, with Bromley only having the one real chance when Olufela Olomola played in Josh Thomas, but the ball deflected wide for a corner and The Blues cleared the danger to secure the victory their play deserved.
Andy Woodman’s men now prepare for the visit of MK Dons on Saturday in a League Two encounter at Hayes Lane, which they could really do with picking up something from.
Bromley: Long, Odutayo (Thomas 71), Foran, Sowunmi, Topalloj, Charles, Leigh (Olomola 71), Congreve, Dennis (Arthurs 45), Amantchi, Dinanga (Paul-Lavely 71).
Subs not used: Moralee, Smith, Penn.
Chelsea U21: Merrick, Dyer, Vale, Hughes, Matios, Olise, Akomeah, McNeilly (Ampah 72), Samuels-Smith, Wilson, Mheuka (Morgan 77).
Subs not used: Crampton, Rak-Sakyi, Silcott-Duberry, Boniface, Russell-Denny.
Goals – BFC: Amantchi 5, Charles 80mins. CFC: McNeilly 3, Vale 26 & 78mins.
HT 1-2 FT 2-3
Referee: Matthew Russell
Attendance: 1250