Bromley’s poor run of form continued as they made it four league defeats in a row with a narrow 2-1 defeat at FC Halifax Town.
A ponderous defensive showing in the first half saw Bromley not only reduced to ten men but fall two goals behind courtesy of goals from Niall Maher and Devante Rodney. Joe Kizzi pulled one back on the stroke of half-time but despite a strong second half showing the Ravens couldnt find a way back.
Ravens manager Neil Smith had responded to the recent run of defeats by changing shape and personnel for the trip to Halifax. Jack Holland returned to the side and Jordan Higgs made his first league start of the season as Sam Wood and Ben Williamson dropped out.
Choosing to match the Halifax formation, Bromley set up in 3-5-1-1 as Luke Coulson moved to left wing back and Corey Whitely played just behind Cheek in the hole.
However the set up did not have the desired effect as Halifax out pointed the Ravens in a one-sided first half.
As early as the seventh minute Ryan Huddart denied Jamie Allen with a fine save after the livewire striker had skipped past Dave Winfield.
The Bromley custodian then had to get down smartly to stop a Rodney strike from just outside the area as FC Halifax piled the pressure on.
With Bromley unable to fashion any meaningful effort on target, Halifax finally took the lead on the half hour. A long ball exposed a flat footed Bromley defence allowing Allen a run through on goal. However his run was adjudged to have been illegally impeded, by Jack Holland, just outside the penalty area.
Holland was dismissed for his troubles and from the resultant free-kick, Maher poked home the loose ball after the wall could only deflect the free-kick into his path.
Buoyed by the goal and the subsequent numerical advantage Halifax laid siege to the Bromley goal and duly doubled their lead just shy of half-time.
Once again, however, the goal was of Bromley’s own making. Michael Chambers failed to deal with a routine aerial challenge with Rodney before being easily turned inside-out by the frontman. Once free, Rodney made no mistake with the finish curling beyond Huddart to the delight of the home crowd.
Having been completely ineffective going forward, Bromley inexplicably reduced arrears in first half injury time to give themselves a bit of hope. Frankie Raymond’s free kick being headed in at the backpost by Joe Kizzi.
The second half saw Bromley come out of the traps flying and for all the complaints about their first 45 the second was as good as Bromley have played in a long while.
They had a golden opportunity to equalise three minutes after the restart when Whitely released Cheek, but as the top scorer rounded Sam Johnson the Halifax keeper was able to deflect the ball far enough away from Cheek to prevent him having a tap-in.
Bromley to their credit largely controlled the tempo of the second half as an inhibited Halifax became increasingly negative in their play. Yet for all their endeavour and hardwork the numerical disadvantage prevented Bromley creating a clear cut opportunity.
Seven minutes from time, Josh Rees got on the end of a Coulson cross but his goalbound flick was saved by Johnson with Rees unable to turn in the rebound.
In the dying embers of the game, a Coulson corner was deflected over the Halifax bar by the narrowest of margins but try as they might Bromley could not find an equaliser.
The defeat sees Bromley fall to 7th in the National League and with the games not getting any easier they now face a real fight to hold unto their playoff position.
FC Halifax: Johnson; Maher, Clarke, Binom-Williams; Duckworth, Cooper (Nolan 67), Staunton, King (Redshaw 79), Williams; Allen, Rodney (Sho-Silva 79)
Subs not used: Appleyard, Hanson,
Bromley: Huddart; Kizzi, Holland, Winfield, Chambers (Bush 46), Coulson; Raymond, Higgs, Rees; Whitely (Clifton 77); Cheek (Williamson 65)
Subs not used: Cousins, Rowe,
Referee: Garreth Rhodes
Attendance: 2,026 (77 away)