Danny Waldren’s first half goal wasn’t enough to put Bromley through to the Skrill South playoff final after they beat Ebbsfleet United 1-0 at Hayes Lane.
Steve Brown’s side came into the game with a 4-0 lead from the first leg; goals from Ben May, Billy Bricknell, Joe Howe and Daryl McMahon gave the fleet a comfortable win in an outstanding performance, they travelled the short distance to Bromley to try and confirm their place in the playoff final.
Brown only made one change from the side which won during the week, Shane Huke came in for Osei Sankofa whereas Mark Goldberg made five changes from his side’s humiliation at Stonebridge Road, Dean Pooley, the suspended Ashley Nicholls, Jack Holland and Jay May were all cut from the starting eleven and in came Jack Holland, Adam Bailey- Dennis Elliot Buchanan, Sam Higgins and Louis Dennis.
In the first leg Bromley’s incapability to defend corners hurt them in the opening minutes in the first leg, but it was the ravens who had the first opportunity to score, from an in swinging corner Danny Waldren was unable to steer his header towards goal.
Soon after it was Ebbsfleet who came back and could have scored, after a corner from the right wing fell to Ben May in the six yard box, but after the tall striker was able to bundle the ball into the goal, he was called for handball and the goal was not given.
The disallowed goal meant that Bromley still had a chance of salvaging the two legged tie, their hopes improved further when, after a long ball from midfield found Danny Waldren in the penalty area, the defender was able to control the ball before hitting a perfect half volley across Preston Edwards to give Bromley the lead.
Even though Bromley had scored, they still needed three more goals if they were going to have a chance to reach the final, they continued to pile on the pressure, after a number of crosses were cleared away it took a full length save to dent Sam Higgins’ long shot; despite the host’s constant pressure the stubborn Fleet defence were able to hold firm so Bromley went into half time 1-0 up, but were still trailing 4-1 on aggregate.
The second half started in a very similar way to how the first ended, Bromley were able to push forward and create chances, but due to some frantic Ebbsfleet defending as well as a number of saves from Preston Edwards meant that they were still needing three goals to force the game into extra time.
It took around five minutes before Ebbsfleet were able to confidently go forward, after Daryl McMahon’s wide free kick was cleared away the visitors were able to expose some gaps in Bromley’s defence but they were unable to make anything from their chances.
However, Bromley’s desperation to score meant that Ebbsfleet were able to exploit their attacking options, after a weaving run from Anthony Cook which Billy Bricknell was unable to control, however, the ball fell to McMahon from 25 yards out and the midfielder hit a powerful effort just wide of Joe Welch’s goal. Cook continued to be influential and another skilful run ended with the winger cutting inside and firing a shot wide.
Bromley came back yet again and a cross from the right found Danny Waldren but his header was amazingly parried away by Preston Edwards.
Bromley’s task was made slightly easier with less than ten minutes remaining when Dean Rance was shown a straight red card after tangling with Elliot Buchanan, despite this, with Ebbsfleet beginning to waste time, the ravens still needed to score three goals to send the game to extra time and penalties.
However, moments after Rance was shown red, Jack Holland’s lunging tackle on Cook gave him a second yellow card, meaning that both teams would finish the game without all 11 players on the pitch.
After this eventful ending to the game, the final whistle blew to put Ebbsfleet United back in the playoff final at the first time of asking.
After the game Steve Brown accepted that his team wasn’t the best on the day but they knew what they needed to do, “The 4-0 lead that we brought here today gave us the comfort of knowing that we didn’t need to score, we had lots of opportunities but we didn’t take them because our mentality was that we can’t allow Bromley to score”.
Brown also praised his old team, Dover for reaching the final which will be played at Stonebridge Road “Dover have a very good team, they have the best away record in the league but I am surprised that they were able to last that long with only ten men at Sutton, it isn’t an easy place to go”.
The Ebbsfleet manager also says that he hasn’t considered his team selection for the Kent Senior Cup final, but he understands what he needs to do “I need to protect players that were out there today, we’ll get together tomorrow and see who is in the best position to play on Saturday”.
The playoff final will be played at Stonebridge Road on Saturday 10th May where Dover, the team with the best away record will face Ebbsfleet, who earlier in the season won 9 consecutive matches but before then all eyes turn to Preistfield when the two teams battle for the Kent Senior Cup on Monday.
Bromley: Welch, Holland, Anderson, Waldren, Swaine, Bailey- Dennis (J May), Joseph- Bubois, Buchanan, Higgins, Goldberg, Dennis (Reid)
Subs not used: Pooley, Kiernan, Fuseini
Booked: Waldren
Sent off: Holland
Ebbsfleet United: Edwards, Howe, Palmer, McMahon, Acheampong (Long), Huke, Osborn (Sankofa), Rance, B May, Bricknell (Thalassitis), Cook
Subs not used: Hall, Sessegnon
Sent off: Rance
Attendance: 1441
Pictures supplied by Ed Boyden.