Bromley secured a place in the National League play off final at Wembley Stadium next Sunday with a stunning ten minute spell just after half time that saw them come from behind to beat Altrincham at Hayes Lane on Sunday afternoon.
Lining up 5-4-1 Bromley made a positive start to the game with Corey Whitely having a shot saved by Ethan Ross, but after an initial spell Altrincham came into things and Grant Smith had to make good saves at his near post from Regan Linney and Chris Conn-Clarke.
Ben Krauhaus had a shot just off target before the Brentford bound midfielder had to go off injured with Louis Dennis coming on to play at the top of the midfield four.
With the game evenly poised, it was the visitors who took the advantage on the half hour, when Conn-Clarke found space on the edge of the area and his shot deflected off Linney to wrong foot Smith and nestle onto the net and put Alty 1-0 up.
Soon after Linney hit the side netting from a tight angle and he went close again just before the break. Con-Clarke then set up Alex Newby who was denied by Smith, but Bromley did have the last effort of the first period when Dennis unleashed a powerful drive from range and Ross did brilliantly to tip the ball over the bar.
The second half saw The Ravens come out looking to be more positive, Dennis set up Michael Cheek who shot wide, then Dennis himself headed a Myles Weston cross over the bar.
Bromley’s pressure finally paid off on 51 minutes when Jude Arthurs corner was headed home by Weston to make it 1-1.
With Andy Woodman’s team now buoyant they took the lead on 55 minutes when when Kemarl Grant’s long throw wrong footed the Altrincham defence and as the ball bounced Arthurs pounced to head home and make it 2-1.
With the home crowd bouncing and the atmosphere raised up a notch the game was as good as killed off on the hour when Weston picked the ball up just inside the box and curled a superb left footed strike past Ross and into the far corner of the net for 3-1.
Weston had to go off injured almost immediately and Alex Kirk came on to shore up the defence. Altrincham rallied for a spell, but Bromely nearly made it four on the break when Dennis played in Cheek, but Ross denied The Ravens’ top scorer with a good save when one on one.
Alty pressed in the final quarter of the match, Conn-Clarke fired wide, Newby hit the bar from a free kick and Conn-Clarke then struck the top of the bar with an indirect free kick in the area for a back pass to Smith.
Arthurs put a chance just over on a rare break, before the visitors had two late chances when Matty Kosylo shot over after good work by Liney and Arthurs then capped a superb display with a fantastic block to thwart Conn-Clarke as he shaped to shoot in the box at the death.
As the final whistle sounded Bromley fans swarmed on to the pitch to celebrate with the players, who have secured the club’s third visit to Wembley in six years and their first ever appearance in the National League play off final where they will face Solihull Moors next Sunday for a place in the Football League.
Bromley: Smith, Weston (Kirk 65), Grant, Webster, Reynolds, Odutayo, Whitely (Olomola 82), Arthurs, Ktauhaus (Dennis 25), Cheek.
Subs Not Used: Thomas, Davies.
Altrincham: Ross, Banks, Jones, Cooper, Osbourne, Baines, Linney, Hancox (Kosylo 69), Newby, Conn-Clarke, Amaluzor (Mooney 78).
Subs Not Used: Angus, Roscoe-Boyd, Gould.
Goals: BFC – Weston 51 & 60mins, Arthurs 56mins. AFC – Linney 31mins.
HT 0-1 FT 3-1
Att: 5,000
Referee: Rueben Ricardo