Despite a superb display from Southern League Division One East Hartley Wintney, National League Bromley just did enough to make their way through to the next round of the FA Trophy with two goals in the final quarter of the game at The Memorial Ground on Saturday.
The game started with the home side kicking down the slope and looking to make an early impact, David Gregory being forced into a fine save within the opening minute.
Paul Hodges had one effort saved and also was just off target with another as The Row pressed The Ravens hard for the first fifteen minutes.
Dean Stow had a powerful shot tipped over for a corner by Gregory, while the only efforts from Bromley were wayward shots from Brett Williams and Louis Dennis.
On a rare foray up the pitch Josh Rees headed an Iffy Allen cross wide, but their first effort on target didn’t come until six minutes from the break when Dennis made a strong run into the box and forced a save from Paul Strudley.
The home keeper was then called into action twice more before the break as Neil Smith’s side rallied rallied, when he denied Williams and Frankie Sutherland who both let fire with power from the edge of the box, while Jake Baxter shot just wide at the other end.
Words were clearly exchanged in the Bromley dressing room at half time as they came out looking far more positive in the second half with Williams again denied by Strudley before Sutherland fired over and Rees put an effort wide after good work by sub Luke Wanadio.
In fact it was Wanadio’s introduction that swung the game into The Ravens favour, but not before Hartley had a goal ruled out for offside when Jake French’s goal bound header was touched over the line by an offside player.
Bromley’s response to the reprieve was to push forward with another sub George Porter going close before the deadlock was broken on 68 minutes.
Wanadio surged into the box and then cut the ball back to Rees who drove it home from twenty yards out low into the corner of the net.
Sutherland had a free kick saved soon after and Porter shot over following good work by Rees, before the second goal came on 82 minutes. Wanadio was again the instigator crossing for Rees, who flicked the ball to Porter to crash the ball into the net from ten yards out giving Strudley no chance.
Late on Stow was narrowly wide from a free kick, but by then The Ravens had done enough to secure the win.
Hartley: Strudley, Duff, Stow, Paris, Noakes, L Eagle, Hodges, Webb, Baxter, Vine, French.
Subs: Everiss, Tennant, Perkins, C Eagle, Harris.
Bromley: Gregory, Higgs, Sterling, Holland, R Johnson (Chorley 84), Allen (Wanadio 55), Rees, Sutherland, Vose (Porter 62), Dennis, Williams.
Subs Not Used: Mekki, D Johnson.
Goals: Bromley – Rees 68, Porter 82mins.
HT 0-0 FT 0-2
Att: 482
Ref: Mr W Cartmell
Pictures supplied by Ed Boyden Photography.