Trailing 1-0 at half time Bromley secured their place in the FA Trophy final at Wembley Stadium in May with a superb second half display again York City in front of a packed Hayes Lane on Saturday thanks to two goals from Michael Cheek and one from James Alabi.
The kick off was delayed by fifteen minutes due to congestion outside the ground as the capacity crowd made their way through the turnstiles for this winner takes all cup tie.
Once it kicked off it was York who dominated the early proceedings and they were 1-0 up inside three minutes when a corner from the right eventually came out to Kurt Willoughby who smashed the ball home from ten yards out to put the National League North side in front sparking huge celebrations from the 1,000 travelling support and red smoke bombs on the pitch.
Winger Olly Dyson caused Bromley all sorts of problems down the right wing and they continued to press as Bromley failed to settle into the game, looking uncomfortable in their 3-4-3 formation.
Mitch Hancox and Willoughby both went close for The Minstermen, before Michael Duckworth fired narrowly wide from long range. Bromley’s first chance came after twenty minutes when Michael Cheek had a twenty five yarder well saved by Peter Jameson. Clayton Donaldson fired across goal with another chance and then Dyson crossed for him again with Ellery Balcombe making a save from the striker’s header.
The Ravens gave the ball away far too much in midfield and just couldn’t get anything going, relying on Chris Bush’s long throws as their only attacking threat.
Donaldson was again denied by Balcombe after he had turned Byron Webster and cut in from the left wing. Willoughby headed another cross wide and Paddy McLaughlin had a header saved by Balcombe after good work by Donaldson, while Bromley had one chance when Corey Whitely crossed for George Alexander who could only bundle the ball into the arms of Jameson.
Half time saw Andy Woodman bring on James Alabi & Louis Dennis for Alexander & Ali Al-Hamadi and they made an immediate impact on Bromley going forward changing the shape to 4-4-2 and strengthening midfield.
James Vennings crossed for Dennis who headed just over and Joe Partington hit the wall with a free kick after Whitely had been fouled on the edge of the box.
York went close when Duckworth crossed for Donaldson, but the big striker headed narrowly wide from edge of the six yard box, hitting the side netting.
The Ravens pulled level just after the hour when Alabi set up Cheek who coolly slotted the ball past Jameson when one on one to equalise. Bromley pressed again with York being pushed back deeper and deeper, unable to deal with Alabi’s strength and intelligent link up play.
Hancox has a shot on the break saved by Balcombe and the home defence cleared the ball away to safety. Billy Bingham volleyed a Bush long throw over as the snow began to fall, before City went close again when Willoughby had an effort saved by Balcombe as he connected with a Scott Barrow cross.
Bromley dug in again and they made the vital breakthrough on 83 minutes when Dennis crossed from the left and Cheek headed home to put The Ravens in front.
With the game ticking into injury time The Ravens put the game beyond doubt when Liam Trotter played in Alabi who broke into the box and clipped the ball past Jameson and into the far corner of the net for 3-1.
Dyson had one final effort for York as they rallied again, but his long range effort just skimmed the outside of the post and Bromley were able to celebrate their place in the final where they will face Wrexham on 22nd May.
Bromley: Balcombe, Partington, Webster, Bush, Vennings, Bingham, Trotter, Whitely, Cheek (Bloomfield 88), Al-Hamadi (Alabi 45), Alexander (Dennis 45), Cheek.
Subs Not Used: Cousins, Krauhuas, Cawley, Nicholas.
York: Jameson, Duckworth (Longdon 90), Barrow, Brown, McLaughlin (Sanders 76), Dyson, Willoughby, Donaldson, Kuoogun, Wright, Hancox.
Subs Not Used: Campbell, Dale, James.
Goals: BFC – Cheek 62 & 83mins, Alabi 90mins. YCFC – Willoughby 2mins.
HT 0-1 FT 3-1
Att: 4,423
Ref: Mr David Rock