Bromley recorded their first win of the National League season in the Kent Derby at Dover on Tuesday night with a hardworking defensive display and two goals against the run of play.

Bromley started well with Louis Dennis forcing a save from Mitch Walker, but it was the home side who went on to dominate for the first twenty minutes with countless balls into the box headed away by the visitors back four.

When Dover did break through Jamie Allen and Giancarlo Gallifuoco both had efforts saved by Ravens keeper David Gregory and Allen then fired over before Bromley started to come back into things. Brett Williams set up Josh Rees who shot wide, before Dennis created something out of nothing for The Ravens, with a strong run into the box taking the ball to the byeline before picking out Rees who coolly slotted the ball home from six yards out to put Bromley into an unlikely lead.

With the home side clearly rattled Connor Essam was lucky to only be booked for a scything foul on Adam Mekki that eventually saw the ex-Tranmere winger have to go off injured. Seconds before half time The Ravens could have gone two up when Rees set up Williams, but he fired his chance straight at Walker from ten yards out.

The second half saw Dover totally dominate the early proceedings, Mitch Brundle forced Gregory into a fine save from a free kick and the young custodian was on hand to also save the rebound. Allen hit a fierce effort that Gregory parried for a corner and he then denied Kane Richards.

Neil Smith made two substitutions on the hour and one of them made an immediate impact, Tyron Sterling cleared a ball off the line from another Dover attack and it eventually fell to Iffy Allen who tore up the right wing before playing the perfect pass to Dennis who slid the ball under the advancing Walker to make it 2-0.

Dover finally scored only two minutes later when Kadell Daniel hit a long range free kick that hit the underside of the bar and bounced off Gregory and into the back of the net despite the keeper’s best effort to keep it out. Daniel went close again soon after and Ryan Bird shot wide, while at the other end Sterling shot just over and George Porter flagged offside as he tried to head home an Allen cross from close range.

Despite another barrage of balls into the box late on Bromley held strong and secured an impressive three points on the road.

Neil Smith now takes his side to Macclesfield on Saturday hoping to keep the great start to the season going.

Dover: Walker, Essam, Parry (Sho Silva 77), Gallifuoco, Ilesamni, Passley, Nortey, Brundle (Pinnock 82), Allen, Bird, Richards (Daniel 60). Subs Not Used: Adebowale, Barnard.

Bromley: Gregory, Wynter, Sterling, Holland, Chorley, Mekki (Porter 65), Rees, Sutherland, Wanadio (Allen 62), Williams, Dennis (Dunne 85). Subs Not Used: Johnson, Higgs,

Goals: Dover – Gregory OG 75mins, Bromley – Rees 34, Dennis 72mins

Att: 1,145