Bromley picked up an impressive away win at Eastleigh on Saturday coming back from 1-0 down to win the game late on thanks to goals from Jack Holland and Courtney Duffus, The Ravens first victory at The Silverlake Stadium in ten years.

Neil Smith made one change to his team bringing in Taylor Maloney for Billy Bingham in midfield with Frankie Raymond continuing to deputise at left back.

Bromley started the brighter with Michael Cheek missing a good chance latching on to a Jack Bridge pass, but scuffing his chance wide just inside the area. Cheek missed another good opportunity soon after when he picked up a flick on from Duffus, but couldn’t connect properly with his strike as it was gathered by Joe McDonnell.

With The Ravens continuing to press Raymond sent in a free kick which Holland connected with at the back post, only for Eastleigh keeper McDonnell to brilliantly tip his header over the bar.

The home side’s first chance didn’t come until the 20th minute when Joe Tomlinson fired well wide from distance. Bromley kept their shape well and battled hard to keep The Spitfires at bay as they had a good spell, but late on it was The Ravens again who had the better of things.

Duffus had a shot deflected over and Cheek had two good chances, one saved by McDonnell from a tight angle at the near post and the league’s top scorer then put Liam Trotter pass just wide. 

The second half saw Bromley start in positive fashion, but after things had settled it was Eastleigh who took the lead when Bromley’s defence failed to clear a Ryan Hill cross from the left and it came out to Tyrone Barnett who hit the ball into the corner of the net on the half volley.

Bromley responded well to going behind though with Bridge charging down the right only to be pulled back by Michael Green as he crossed to Luke Couslon, with the Referee blowing for a foul as he turned the ball into the net. Any sense of injustice was soon eased when Raymond’s resulting free kick was headed home by Holland at the far post, the Bromley centre back completely unmarked.

Hill has an effort saved by Mark Cousins straight after, following good work by Jack Payne as the home side looked to regain their lead, but with the play wide open McDonnell made three great consecutive saves from Duffus and Cheek twice from close range after Couslon had played the ball into a crowded area.

With Eastleigh pressing again Bromley defended well and it was The Raverns who grabbed the vital second goal with five minutes to go. Trotter cut down the right and found Bridge who sent a dangerous low ball across the area and Duffus turned it into the roof of the net from three yards out under pressure from two home defenders.

Late on with Eastleigh pressing, they had a strong shout for a penalty turned down when Byron Webster appeared to have raised his hands to block a shot on the edge of the box, but the appeals were waved away by Referee Mr Russell and Bromley secured a vital win. 

The Ravens move up to eighth in the National League table, one point off the play offs and they now have a week off before they entertain Barnet at Hayes Lane next Saturday.

HT 0-0 FT 1-2 
Eastleigh: McDonnell, Tomlinson, Royce, Hollands, Green (Baggie 87), Bird, Blair, Payne, Hill (Smartt 72), Barnett (Smith 81), House.

Subs Not Used: Miley, Bearwish.

Bromley: Cousins, Kizzi, Raymond, Webster, Holland, Bridge (Wakefield 89), Maloney, Trotter, Coulson, Cheek, Duffus (Alabi 88).

Subs Not Used: Vincent, Roberts, Williamson.  
Ref: Matthew Russell

Goals: Eastleigh – Barnett 57mins. Bromley – Holland 65, Duffus 85mins.