Late, late drama lit up this Vanarama Conference South game which prior to injury time looked to be heading to a goalless draw.
With only nine league games of the season remaining Bromley took their excellent away record to Hemel Hempstead Town looking to avoid defeat and hope results went their way elsewhere so as to keep them at the summit of the Vanarama Conference South and still in charge of their own destiny. What transpired was a tight game on a difficult pitch with chances once again at a premium.
It took until the 13th minute of the game for a chance to be fashioned, Jordan Parkes’ expertly taken free kick from 25 yards out beat Alan Julian in the Bromley goal but not the crossbar as Bromley were served an early warning. Bromley’s only chance of the first half arrived in the 19th minute. A quick counter attack led by Moses Ademola resulted in a cross being excellently taken down by Jamie Slabber, but as he swivelled in the penalty area his cross-shot was inches away from being turned in by Bradley Goldberg.
The remainder of the first half whilst high in application and intensity resulted in no further clear cut opportunities as both sides cancelled each other, indeed the closest any side came was courtesy of another Parkes free kick that went narrowly over the Bromley crossbar.
If the half time break was an opportunity for both managers to impart some choice words in order to allow their side to seize the initiative, the opening 15 minutes of the second half failed to reflect it. The quality of the game dropped significantly as the game seemingly resembled a rugby game as both sides repeatedly went long into touch.
In the 60th minute the game suddenly shot into life, Ali Fuseini intercepted a defensive clearance before letting fly from 25 yards but Laurie Walker in the Hemel Hempstead goal was equal to the task, turning the fierce drive away for a corner.
Bromley fashioned another opportunity ten minutes later when Rob Swaine met an Ademola corner but his far post header went narrowly wide.
The closest either side was to come arrived five minutes later, great wing work by Arthur Lee led to James Potton sidefooting Lee’s cross beyond Julian, however Joe Anderson was on hand to head the goalbound shot off the line.
As the game entered the final three minutes the first of several twists took place, firstly Hemel Hempstead debutant Eddie Oshodi was shown a second yellow card for a cynical hack on Ademola as he tried to lead a quick breakaway. With the home side down to ten men and 4 minutes of injury time signalled, Bromley proceeded to lay siege to the Hemel Hempstead goal. In the fourth minute of the injury time and following their fourth consecutive corner, Slabber was able to force the ball home from close range to give what many thought was the winner.
Alas the old adage that a side is most vulnerable when they have scored a goal came to pass, whilst questions can be asked about why the referee was still playing on after the Bromley goal, the Bromley defence have to accept responsibility for switching off after the restart. A long punt from the restart caught the Bromley defence square as an on-rushing Luke Allan ran through and neatly clipped the ball over Julian to level the game up in the 95th minute.
Undoubtedly for some of the Bromley faithful the game would have felt like a defeat, however on the balance of play a point was the most either side deserved and with results elsewhere being favourable for the Ravens. They end another week still a point clear at the top of the Conference South and with games in hand on their rivals.
Hemel Hempstead: Walker, King, Lee, Parkes (c), Hyam, Oshodi, Asafu-Adjaye (Allen 63), Harriott, Hawkins (Kabamba 79), Banton (Oli 70), Potton
Subs not used: Johnson,Head
Sent off: Oshodi 88
Bromley: Julian, Udoji, Anderson, Prestedge, Swaine (c), Holland, Fuseini (Dennis 74), Waldren, Slabber, Goldberg, Ademola (Pinnock 88)
Subs not used: Birchall, Rodgers, McNaughton