An excellent away performance built on solid defence and devastating counter attack saw Bromley not only dent Sutton’s title aspirations but more importantly keep up their own playoff hopes as they enter the last month of the league campaign.

Playing their second game in four days, Ravens manager Neil Smith declined to make many changes with the only one made being enforced as Ben Chorley replaced the suspended Roger Johnson. On the bench there was a welcome return for top scorer Louis Dennis who alongside Josh Rees ensured Smith could call on two players with 39 goals between them should circumstances dictate their presence necessary.

As it was the starting eleven put in a dominant performance that in truth could have been wider than the final scoreline.

It was actually Sutton who created the first opportunity of the match; Tom Bolarinwa broke away from a Bromley corner finding Craig Eastmond in open space who in turn played in an onrushing Byron Harrison. However despite cutting back on his stronger foot the on loan Barrow centre forward was denied by David Gregory who did just enough to avert the danger.

Sutton were to pay for that missed opportunity as Bromley took the lead with their first attack of the game. Frankie Raymond’s free kick wasn’t dealt with by the Sutton defence and Brandon Hanlan was able to stab the loose ball home at the second attempt to score for the third game in a row.

The remainder of the half played out with little or no incident until the final two minutes. Sutton’s Harry Beautyman saw his flying header from Louis John’s cross tipped over the bar by Gregory before the first controversial moment of the match took place in first half injury time.

Having over committed at a corner George Porter exposed the non-existent Sutton defence to run unchallenged to the Sutton penalty area before being hauled down by Sutton custodian Jamie Butler. Referee Neil Hair determined that Butler’s foul was only worthy of a yellow although it was highly debatable whether the goalkeeper made an ‘accidental’ foul in bringing down Porter. Having been saved by the referee Butler was punished for his indiscretion all the same when Adam Mekki slotted home from the spot to extend the Bromley lead.

Referee Hair was to outdo himself shortly after the restart when he chalked off a Hanlan effort that left everyone in the ground baffled. Having played a one-two with Porter and broken the offside trap Hanlan ran through on goal and nutmegged Butler to seemingly give Bromley an unassailable lead. However despite the linesman not flagging, Mr Hair deemed it fit to chalk off the goal. That TV replays confirmed the validity of the goal only served to add further embarrassment to the referring performance.

Bromley were not unnerved by the controversy however and nearly scored again when Jordan Higgs saw his shot blocked by Butler after he collected Mekki’s cross.

With Sutton chances at a premium they came close to reducing arrears when substitute Tommy Wright saw his looping header from John’s cross tipped away by the excellent Gregory.

That was to be as good as it got for Sutton as their hopes were all but extinguished following another bizarre referring decision. A seemingly innocuous collision between Luke Woolfenden and Jamie Collins saw the Sutton captain receive his marching orders with no one any the wiser as to what offence had been committed.

Down to 10 men against a Bromley side brimming with confidence it was only a matter of time before the Ravens sealed the game. That moment came with 10 minutes remaining as substitute Omar Bugiel’s right wing run and cross saw the ball fall to fellow substitute Josh Rees who poked in for his 19th goal of the season.

Bromley saw out the remainder of the match with minimum fuss ensuring that they now stand five points from the playoffs with two games in hand on Dover.

With the FA Trophy final not until May 20th manager Neil Smith will know that Bromley are still very much in with a shout of carrying their league season into May should they maintain performances of this calibre.

Sutton: Butler, Beckwith, T.Thomas, Eastmond, Collins, John, Davis, Walton (Wright 46), Bolarinwa, Beautyman (Stearn 46), Harrison (Dundas 75)

Subs not used: Cadogan, A.Thomas

Sent off: Collins 68

Bromley: Gregory, Woolfenden, Holland, Chorley, Sterling, Higgs (Rees 60), Raymond (Rees 64), Sutherland, Mekki (Bugiel 76), Porter (Dennis 82), Hanlan

Subs not used: D.Johnson, Wanadio

Goal scorers / Time of goal: Bromley: Hanlan (6), Mekki (45+3 pen), Rees (80)

Attendance: 2,233

Referee: Mr N.Hair