Bromley secured their first win of the new National League season with a stylish 3-1 local derby win over Ebbsfleet Utd at Hayes Lane on Tuesday night and but for the inspired form of Nathan Ashmore in the Fleet goal, it could have been by more.

The Ravens started the game looking far more positive than they had at Chorley on Saturday, with Reeco Hackett-Fairchild forcing an early save from Ashmore.

A good spell of pressure from Bromley saw Billy Bingham fire just wide and George Porter also went close soon after.

The home side’s pressure finally paid off on 17 minutes when Porter combined with Luke Coulson to set up Michael Cheek to slide the ball home from six yards at the far post, opening his Bromley account against the club he left in the summer.

Fleet’s first effort came when Sean Shields curled a shot from the edge of the box narrowly wide and he also had an effort saved by Mark Cousins before Ashmore was on hand to deny Porter at the other end, palming away a powerful half volley.

The Ravens then made their pressure count again on the half hour when Coulson crossed to Bingham ten yards from goal, the ex-Gillingham man bringing the ball down and coolly sliding the ball home in one skilful move to make it 2-0.

Late on in the half former Bromley man John Goddard nearly pulled one back for Fleet, but Chris Bush cleared the ball off the line.

Bromley started the second half where they left off in the first, Coulson had a driving run from the halfway line before shooting just wide against his old side.

In an end to end period of the game Ebbsfleet’s Myles Weston was denied by Bush who hooked his header away from goal. Cheek then set up Hackett-Fairchild who was denied by Ashmore and the Fleet custodian was also on hand to save from Cheek soon after and then from Hackett-Fairchild again at the resulting corner.

Ebbsfleet then rallied with a good spell, Ayo Obileye headed a good chance over the bar from close range, but they were to rue that miss when Bingham sealed the win for The Ravens in the 73rd minute. The former Gillingham man hit an unstoppable drive from 30 yards past Ashmore to make it 3-0.

The Fleet keeper made a superb stop at the foot of his left hand post to save Hackett-Fairchild’s downward header on the next attack and the former Charlton winger then went close again with a long range drive that was just a little too high.

Late on Ebbsfleet were able to reduce the arrears when Bromley failed to clear a corner and the ball fell to Aswad Thomas who bundled the ball home from close range.

Neil Smith’s Bromley side now face Torquay Utd at Hayes Lane on Saturday as they look to make it a very positive start to the campaign, while Gary Hills’ Ebbsfleet travel to AFC Fylde as they still look for their first points of the season.

 

Bromley: Cousins, Kizzi, Wood, Holland, Bush, Coulson (Mekki 87), Raymond, Bingham, Hackett-Fairchild, Porter (Clifton 63), Cheek (Klass 77).

Subs Not Used: Dunne, Higgs.

Goals: Bromley – Cheek 17, Bingham 30 & 73

 

Ebbsfleet United: Ashmore, Thomas, Lawless (Egan 77), Obileye, Wilson, Shields, Ball, Ugwu, Goddard, Weston, Grimes.

Subs not Used: Palmer, Umerah, Achuba, Regini-Moran.

Goal:  Fleet – Thomas 89

 

Attendance: 1,719

Referee: Mr Adrian Quelch