On a very entertaining afternoon of football packed with incident, it was Bromley who just came out on top and secured their first win of the National League season over an inform Gateshead at Hayes Lane on Saturday.

The Ravens started well with a strong penalty shout turned down for a foul on Louis Dennis, but again they conceded an early goal from a set piece after only 4minutes on the visitor’s first attack.

A cross from the left found James Bolton unmarked in the box and the right back thumped the ball past Alan Julian to put The Heed in front. Bromley immediately responded though with Blair Turgott going close before Tobi Sho-Silva sent a powerful low drive from 18yards just inside the post to level the scores after only a minute. Buoyed by the equaliser The Ravens went in front on 11minutes when Dennis crossed for Joe Anderson whose shot was saved by Sam Johnson only for Sho-Silva to flick the rebound past the keeper from six yards out. The game flowed from end to end with both sides creating chances Sam Jones fired over for Gateshead, while Dennis and Sho-Silva were just off target for Bromley.

Liam Hogan sent a long range free kick just wide of the far post with Alan Julian scrambling before the home side made it 3-1 on 36minutes. Johnson’s goal kick only found Turgott who found Dave Martin down the left, the wingers cross was brought down by Sho-Silva who set up Anderson to coolly slot the ball home from the edge of the box. Late in the half Ryan Bowman twice had shots saved by Julian after getting behind the home defence, while Dennis had a goal bound effort headed over by Bolton.

Half time 3-1

The second half saw Gateshead start the more threatening, Toby Ajala’s free kick went inches wide and Bowman went close again before the game became scrappy and littered with fouls and stoppages. Julian was hit late by Dan Johnson who was booked and after a second scuffle following a deliberate handball Sho-Silva and Manny Smith were both cautioned despite Smith appearing to throw two punches and committing the original offence. Smith’s luck however ran out soon after when he was sent off for a second yellow when needlessly tripping Connor Dymond.

Turgott hit Reece Prestedge’s pass just wide, before Bromley too went down to ten men after Sho-Silva was sent off for a second yellow, kicking the ball away after being caught offside spoiling what had been a superb afternoon for him with a lapse of reason. Gateshead went onto dominate the final fifteen minutes, Ajala had a shot saved by Julian, before they were awarded a penalty on 81minutes when Anderson tripped Reece Styche just inside the box.

Dan Johnson sent Julian the wrong way to make it 3-2 and spark some nerves in the home support. The Heed had most of the ball and Mitch Brundle did head a chance wide, but Bromley held out without any more scares and on the break both Jack Holland and Turgott went close to extending The Ravens lead before the final whistle.

Bromley now have a week to recover before travelling up to Guiseley looking to put a gap between themselves and the bottom four now they are off the mark.

Full time 3-2

Bromley: Julian, Holland, Swaine, Chorley, Anderson, Turgott, Martin (Prestedge 58), M Porter (Dymond 45), Dennis (Johnson 76), Pavey, Sho-Silva.

Subs Not Used: Howe, Goldberg.

Gateshead: S Johnson, Bolton, G Smith, M Smith, Hogan, Fyfield (Ajala 45), D Johnson, Jones (Brundle 65), Bowman (Styche 60), Mafuta, McLaughlin.

Subs Not Used: Sweeney, Hanford.

Goals: Bromley – Sho-Silva  5 & 11mins, Anderson 36mins. Gateshead- Bolton 4mins, Johnson 81pen.

Ref: C Hicks

Att: 604

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