In front of the cameras on New Years evening Bromley came out on top in a six goal thriller of a Kent Derby at Hayes Lane.

Fleet started the game on top, but the early talking point came when Sam Magri committed a studs up late foul on Tyrone Sterling and escaped without a card setting the tone for the game.

Bromley rallied and went close through Adam Mekki who volleyed wide. Fleet soon responded when Sean Shields had an effort saved by David Gregory’s legs.

Luke Coulson put a chance wide and Shields hit the bar before Bromley took the lead on 17 minutes. Luke Wanadio set up Mekki whose shot was defelcted wide, but the corner eventually fell to Louis Dennis who played the perfect ball to Jack Holland who side footed the ball home in a crowded area.

The game flowed from end to end before Bromley went 2-0 up on 27 minutes when Wanadio set up Mekki whose deflected shot fell to George Porter, the striker then scored with his second effort past Nathan Ashmore with a cheeky back heel.

With Fleet stunned The Ravens made it three on 36 minutes when Wanadio’s curling cross caught out Ashmore and he allowed the ball to go straight across him into the net as he was distracted by Dennis’ run.

Fleet rallied from there and pulled one back two minutes later when Andy Drury caught the home defence flat latching on to a flick on and coolly slotted the ball past Gregory to make it 3-1.

The visitors finished stronger, with Bromley relieved to go in still two up.

The second half saw Ebbsfleet dominate for long spells, although Bromley did have two early chances with Dennis forcing a save from Ashmore and the keeper then tipped over Mekki’s long range effort.

Fleet then pressed and Shields pulled it back to 3-2 on 54 minutes when he drove the ball low and hard past Gregory beating him at the near post.

The visitors piled on the pressure, but Bromley held out and looked to hit Fleet on the break. Dennis had another shot saved, while Danny Kedwell headed wide at the other end.

Myles Weston had a shot saved by Gregory before Bromley battled back into things. Josh Rees went close with two long range strikes before they struck the killer blow on 85 minutes when Jordan Higgs and Porter combined to set up Dennis whose shot was deflected past Ashmore for 4-2.

The Ravens comfortably saw things out from there and moved up to sixth place in the National League.

Bromley now host AFC Fylde on Saturday at Hayes Lane looking to keep their good recent form going.

 

Bromley: Gregory, Woolfenden, Sterling, Holland, R Johnson, Mekki (Williams 73), Sutherland, Rees, Wanadio (Higgs 66), Porter (Raymond 87), Dennis.

Subs Not Used: D Johnson, Vose.

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Rance, Winfield, Clark, Powell (Weston 45), Drury, Kedwell, Shields, Magri, Coulson (Bubb 73), Bush (McCoy 77).

Subs Not Used: Miles, McLean.

Goals: Bromley- Holland 17, Porter 27, Wanadio 36, Dennis 85. Fleet; Drury 38, Shields 54mins.

Att: 1,325.

HT 3-1 FT 4-2.

Ref: Mr Purkiss.