Bromley continued their recent good form with a well-earned point at Chester although it was a game that was largely forgettable for the 1,827 fans in attendance.
Despite both teams providing huge effort towards the proceedings the match lacked quality and neither side could really lay claim to deserving the three points. Chances remained at a high premium throughout the ninety minutes albeit of the two sides Bromley will perhaps feel it was two points dropped as opposed to one gained.
Starting the game on the front foot, Bromley made life very difficult for their hosts pressing high up the pitch and refusing to allow Chester time and space to settle into a pattern of play. Bromley reaped the rewards of this approach with the opening goal of the game fifteen minutes into the contest.
Both Tobi Sho-Silva and Conor Dymond had shots charged down by the Chester defence, on the edge of the box, but the ball broke free to Blair Turgott who side-footed beyond Alex Lynch from 12 yards for his tenth goal of the season.
Bromley were very comfortable in defence, if not threatening going forward, consequently the best Chester were able to muster in a first half of limited opportunities was a tame Kane Richards effort from 20 yards that Julian comfortably saved. However Bromley were also indebted to Rob Swaine as his last ditch challenge on James Alabi prevented the burly front man from pulling the trigger when well placed in the penalty area.
The second half witnessed no improvement in the quality of the game as both sides huffed and puffed with little end product. That Chester fashioned an equaliser in the 69th minute with their first genuine effort at goal was more in part to a contentious referring decision than any actual quality.
Kane Richards received a ball on the left wing and as he cut into the penalty area he managed to force his way through challenges from Dan Johnson and Conor Dymond before falling theatrically to the turf. Referee Anthony Coggins wasted no time in pointing to the penalty spot and Tom Shaw made no mistake from 12 yards sending Alan Julian the wrong way.
Once level Chester did improve and had a great opportunity to take the lead when Ryan Astles headed Ryan Lloyd’s free kick inches over the crossbar.
As the game drifted into injury time both sides had late chances to win the match, firstly Jordan Chappell profited from some slack Bromley defending to break through on goal but he was unable to beat Alan Julian one on one as the Bromley custodian produced a fine double save.
Seconds before the full time whistle Jordan Higgs was denied by a fantastic one handed save from Lynch, Dave Martin did well to jinx past two players on the wing and his great cross was met by Higgs’s bullet header however Lynch was equal to the effort.
Bromley now have three upcoming games against teams in the bottom five and Neil Smith will no doubt take heart from the current unbeaten three game run and look to further extend the daylight between Bromley and the relegation places.
Chester FC: Lynch, Hughes, Hudson, Astles, Hunt, Shaw, Lloyd, Durrell (Chapell 66), Mahon (Joyce 66), Richards, Alabi
Subs not used: Horwood, Waters, Marsh
Goals: Shaw 69 (pen)
Bromley: Julian, Johnson, Swaine, Holland, Anderson, Minshull (Higgs 76), Dymond, Porter (Ngoo 77), Turgott, Martin, Sho-Silva (Prestedge 86)
Subs not used: Chorley, Cunnington,
Goals: Turgott 15
Referee: Mr Oliver Yates
Attendance: 1,827 (66 away fans)