Once again the old footballing addage about teams at the top playing badly and still winning was trotted out on Tuesday night at Gander Green Lane as Bromley were dominated by Sutton for long periods of the game, but still left with all three points.

Lining up 4-5-1 again The Ravens were under pressure from the off with Dan Fitchett and Bedsente Gomis forcing saves from Alan Julian.

With Sutton winning the midfield battle they tested their former keeper Julian several times with big balls into the box which he handled superbly. Bromley’s only chance of the half fell to Louis Dennis who latched on to an Ali Fuseini through ball, but blasted his shot straight at Aaron Howe.

Fitchett went close for the home side again before they took the lead on 28 minutes when a low ball into the six yard box was spilled by Julian and Gomis pounced on the loose ball for 1-0.

Dennis then limped off for The Ravens as the visitors struggled to mount any kind of attack, resorting to long balls played up to an isolated Brad Goldberg.

Just before half time Dale Binns forced another save from Julian as Sutton finished well on top.

Bromley reshuffled at the break, going 4-4-2 and looking more resilient for it, with Joe Anderson having a free kick saved by Howe.

Sutton battled back though with Binns charging into the box and having his shot saved by Julian. Goldberg was just off target as the game opened up and he was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when tripped in the box soon after.

With a shift in momentum Mark Goldberg’s side equalised on 70 minutes after Anderson’s high ball into the area was fumbled by Howe and as he scrambled to retrieve it Jamie Slabber bundled it home off the far post.

Goldberg hit the bar with a deft lob and The Ravens also had a good shout for hand ball in the box turned down, before the spell of pressure. And set pieces told on 86 minutes when another dangerous corner from Moses Ademola hit Slabber in the stomach and rolled over the line with keeper and defenders static on the line.

Goldberg was denied by a superb Howe save late on after good work by Slabber and Ademola, then Micky Spillane cleared another corner off the line.

In injury time Spillane nearly equalised as he shot narrowly wide, but Bromley rode their luck and grabbed all three points.

The win now leaves The Ravens clear at the top of Conference South going into the Ebbsfleet game at Hayes Lane on Saturday.

 

Sutton United: Aaron Howe, Kevin Amankwaah, Dale Binns, Michael Spillane, Shaun Cooper, Jamie Collins, Ricky Wellard (Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick 80), Kieran Forbes, Craig Dundas, Bedsente Gomis (Jamie White 74), Dan Fitchett

Subs. Not used: Wayne Shaw, Kevant Serbony, Callum Hart

 

Bromley: Alan Julian, Ugo Udoji, Joe Anderson, Ali Fuseini (Jamie Slabber 47), Callum McNaughton, Jack Holland, Moses Ademola, Reece Prestedge (Adam Birchall 69), Danny Waldren, Bradley Goldberg, Louis Dennis (Paul Rodgers 38)

Subs not used: Matthew Bennett, Billy Carter.

 

Ref; Mr Degnaarian

Goals; Gomis 28mins Sutton. Slabber 70 and 86mins Bromley.

HT 1-0 FT 1-2

Att: 529