Bromley moved to within four points of the leaders with this emphatic derby day win over Ebbsfleet Utd in the NationalLeague at Hayes Lane on Saturday in front of a bumper crowd of over 4,000. 

Andy Woodman made one change from Boxing Day’s win with Myles Weston coming in for Byron Webster and Besart Topalloj moving into the back three.  

The game got off to an open start with corners at both ends, but it was Ebbsfleet who took an early lead when Craig Tanner’s corner was headed home by Luke O’Neill stooping on the edge of the six yard box to direct the ball home after only 8 minutes.

There was a delay in play soon after for an injury to the Referee Matthew Russell and even after the break in play it was Fleet who had the better of things for a spell.

The Ravens finally got going heading towards the half hour, with  Lewis Leigh did forcing a save from ex-Bromley keeper Marc Cousins and they soon drew level when Olufela Olomola and Ben Krauhaus set up Josh Passley on the right wing, who crossed for Michael Cheek to power home a header to make it 1-1  on 29 minutes.

The Ravens nearly wet in front soon after, but a scramble in the box following a set piece was eventually cleared to safety and they continued to press from there.

Passley crossed again for Cheek who this time was thwarted by a superb save from Cousins, but he could do nothing about the next attempt on goal when Corey Whitely battled through into the area and set up Krauhuas to finish low into the far corner of the net and make it 2-1 to Bromley on 42 minutes.

Whitely then set up Olomola who saw his shot saved by Cousins, before Ebbsfleet had two later chances via Tanner who had a shot deflected wide and then hit the bar with a dipping free kick that may have been tipped by Grant Smith. 

The second half saw Bromley start in perfect fashion when a half cleared set piece fell to Alex Kirk on the edge of the area, who drove the ball into the roof of the net to make it 3-1 on 48 minutes.

Myles Weston went close soon after and Krauhuas then had a shot saved following a great run from midfield, but The Ravens pressure eventually paid off again on 56minutes when Kirk & Passley combined down the right to set up Cheek, who showed great strength to hold off the defender before squaring the ball to Olomola who tapped home for 4-1.

With the rain now swirling round Hayes Lane, Bromley kept up the deluge on their visitors, Leigh had a shot saved and Besart Topalloj was just off target, before Fleet rallied with twenty minutes to go. Dominic Poleon had a shot saved by Smith and they had a series of corners, which Bromley defended resolutely.

The final goal for The Ravens came on the break when Olomola played in Krauhaus who show tremendous composure to dink the ball over the advancing Cousins and into the goal to make it 5-1 with three minutes left. Ebbsfleet had one final chance in injury time, but Smith did enough to deny Famino from close range. 

Bromley are next in action on 6th January when they travel to Maidenhead Utd hoping to keep up pressure on Chesterfield and maintain their second place. Ebbsfleet remain twenty second ahead of their home game with Wealdstone next Saturday. 

Bromley: Smith, Passley, Kirk, Reynolds, Topalloj, Weston, Leigh (Woods), Whitely (Jones), Krauhaus, Cheek, Olomola. Subs Not Used: Webster, Dennis, Sharman-Lowe. 

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, O’Neiil, Wright, Bingham (Clifford 61), Tanner, McQueen (Cisse 75), Poleon, Chapman, White (Famino 75), Samuel, Kenlock.    

Subs not Used: Martin, Edser. 

Goals; BFC – Cheek 29, Krauhaus 42 & 88, Kirk 48, Olomola 56mins. EUFC – O’Neill 8mins. 

Att: 4,031 

HT 2-1 FT 5-1 

Referee: Mr Matthew Russell.