A fantastic all-round performance on the South coast saw Bromley return to winning ways in a crucial relegation six-pointer as goals from JJ Hooper, Jack Holland and Luke Coulson moved them clear of the drop zone.
Having started the day one place and one point above Havant but more importantly only three points above the bottom four, the game was one neither side could really afford to lose.
Bearing this in mind and in light of some strong criticism of his side’s dreary performance on Boxing Day, Ravens manager Neil Smith shuffled his pack restoring Adam Mekki and JJ Hooper to the starting line-up as well as reverting back to a 4-4-2.
The changes reaped dividends as Bromley turned in one of their most enterprising performances of the season. Showing a clear attacking intent from the opening whistle, they moved the ball quickly which often had the Havant defence on the backfoot throughout the match.
Havant to their credit tried to fight fire with fire and were equally as positive going forward but in making the game open they ultimately succumbed to the better quality from their visitors.
It was Havant who had the first genuine attempt on target when David Gregory had to be alert to parry away Djameel Leeflang’s speculative half volley from 25 yards. However that was to be as good as it got for Havant as Bromley dominated the remainder of the first half.
Luke Coulson was to be at the heart of most of Bromley’s positive play and he came close to giving Bromley the lead on the half hour when he headed Frankie Sutherland’s free kick against the crossbar.
Six minutes before the interval Bromley took the lead. Couslon’s run down the Bromley left and cut infield led to him unleashing a shot from distance that crashed against the post but rebounded into the path of a gleeful JJ Hooper who slotted home.
Despite a change of shape and personnel at the interval from the home side, Bromley continued to have the better of the game in the second half.
Jack Holland could have stretched the Bromley lead six minutes after the restart when his header from Sutherland’s corner was kept out by a good Ben Dudzinski reaction save in the Havant goal.
Holland went close again on the hour mark hooking over after a Frankie Raymond free kick fell into his path.
The Bromley captain was not to be denied at the third attempt, however, notching his second goal in three games when he headed home Sutherland’s excellent free kick delivery.
With Bromley well in the ascendancy and Havant struggling to gain any foothold in the game the match briefly resembled a session of attack vs defence. An excellent one touch move involving four Bromley players nearly led to Hooper extending the lead but his swivel and shot on the edge of the area screwed narrowly wide past the post.
Five minutes from time Coulson capped his man of the match performance with the final goal making the game safe for Bromley in the process. Substitute Zavon Hines led a quick counter attack that culminated in him slipping in Coulson for a run on goal. The winger saw his first effort blocked by Dudzinski before he was able to loft the ball over the Havant custodian at the second attempt.
With Bromley content to see the game out Havant fashioned a late opportunity in injury time but Bradley Tarbuck fierce drive crashed against the crossbar and away to safety.
The win sees Bromley stay in 17th place in the National League but crucially pull six points clear of the relegation zone.
They now look towards the New Year’s Day clash with Sutton United live on BT Sport as the familiar foes lock horns for the third time in two and a half weeks.
Havant and Waterlooville: Dudzinski; Strugnell, Rose, Ridge; Tarbuck, Robinson, Cordner, Leeflang (Frost 71), Wood (Williams 62); Rutherford, Kabamba (Jalloh 45)
Subs not used: Lewis, Bradley
Bromley: Gregory; Brindley, Holland, Okoye (Goodman 89), Wood; Mekki (Hines 76), Sutherland, Raymond, Coulson; Hooper, Porter (Ogedi-Uzokwe 84)
Subs not used: Johnson, Bugiel
Goal scorers / Time of goal: Bromley: Hooper 39, Holland 62, Coulson 85
Referee: Mr Josh Smith
Star Man: Luke Coulson
Attendance: 1,341