Bromley went back to the top of the table with a hard fought win over play off chasing Chelmsford in an ill tempered, but entertaining game at Melbourne Park that saw The Ravens turn on the style in the second half.

With a number of players out injured and Rob Swaine suspended, Mark Goldberg lined his side up 4-5-1 with Louis Dennis and Moses Ademola playing wide and Danny Waldren playing a supporting role behind Bradley Goldberg.

The first half saw Bromley start well with Reece Prestedge firing over and Louis Dennis putting in two great crosses that were cleared off the line by the home defence.

As the half progressed Chelmsford battled back into the game with Joe Ward and Michael Cheek going close with shots from long throws, Ward also narrowly missing the target with a free kick late on as the home side finished on top.

Bromley came out in the second half looking far more determined, Callum McNaughton went close with a header from a corner before the breakthrough came on 53 minutes when Ademola combined with Ugo Udoji who sent in the perfect cross for Ademola to head home with a deft flicked header at the near post.

The home side visibly rattled lost their discipline and captain Mark Hughes was sent off on the hour for a second yellow card following an awful late foul on Prestdedge.

Bromley then pressed for more with Bradley Goldberg having a shot tipped over by Tom Lovelock and Prestedge was also denied by The Clarets’ keeper saving a low drive.

Goldberg went close again soon after, before Chelmsford rallied and had a strong spell of pressure, which saw Ademola head a Harry Hickford chance off the line.

The home side’s pressure paid off on 82 minutes when Michael Toner converted a low cross at the near post. Both sides then looked to win the game as things really opened up, Dennis and Ali Fuseini went close before the winning goal came right at the death.

Dennis put in a superb ball from the right, which found Ademola unmarked in the six yard box and the winger crowned a man of the match display with a stooping header into an unguarded net.

In injury time Chelmsford who now had lost all composure were reduced to nine men when a horrific ate high foul on Udoji saw Hickford sent off and a resulting mass brawl that saw their manager also ordered to the stand who had to be escorted away by security guards.

Once things settled down and Udoji had been helped off, Goldberg fired over when well placed, but the two Ademola strikes were enough to take Bromley top and record a very rare win at Chelmsford.

Bromley now travel to Sutton United on Tuesday looking to maintain their top spot.

 

Chelmsford: Lovelock, Girdlestone, Toner, Hughes, Ekpiteta, Mambo (R Gordon 67), Hickford, Ward, Tshimananga (Spence 67), Cheek, Bridge.

Subs not used: Redwood, Morgan, Kouassi.

Bromley: Julian, Udoji (Rodgers 90), Anderson, Holland, McNaughton, Ademola, Fuseini, Waldren, Prestedge, Dennis, Goldberg.

Subs Not Used: Birchall, O’Leary, Carter, Thompson.

 

Goals: Bromley – Ademola 53 & 89mins. Chelmsford Toner 82mins.

HT 0-0 FT1-2,

Att: 749

Ref: Mr  A Young