Bromley survived a massive scare in the FA Trophy as Tonbridge Angels took them all the way and even played with 10 men for the last 24 minutes.
The game was pretty drab especially in the first half but got better in the second half which Bromley manager Andy Woodman stated that Tonbridge deserved all the credit and if they had one in normal time would not have complained.
Steve McKimm echoed those views and was very proud of his team and the fact they had made history in this great Trophy run.
Bromley started the game with nine changes from Tuesday’s game against Southend and in the 4th minute had their first chance when a Jack Cawley long throw into the area found Mason Bloomfield 4 yards out but his header was saved by Jon Henly.
The game drifted along for a while as both sides were guilty of giving the ball away then in the 25th minute Corey Whitely on the left crossed to the near post for James Alabi but his flicked shot went past the post.
Fifteen minutes later another half chance came for Bromley when a ball into the area was not properly cleared and ended up at Whitely’s feet and his curling effort just went past the post.
In the 45th minute Tonbridge had their first half chance when Craig Barham-Barrett on the left wing fizzed his cross into the area and was partially cleared to Tom Beere who from 20 yards shot high and wide.
Half time arrived and it was clear to say that both sides would have to improve to warm the large crowd up.
The second half started with Tonbridge on the front foot and in the 54th minute Joe Turner latched onto a loose ball and from 25 yards his shot went just over the bar.
Four minutes later Barrett on the left passed out wide to Tom Wood and his low cross saw Turner sliding in and he just got a toe to it as it went past the post.
The game suddenly changed in the 67th minute when referee James Durkin went off injured and 4th official George Byrne took over.
In the 72nd minute controversy arrived when a ball into the Tonbridge area was missed by everyone and when Henly was about to take the goal kick Harry Hudson and Jude Arthurs clashed and the new referee sent Hudson off for violent conduct.
Bromley took advantage of having one man more as in the 81st minute they took the lead when a long ball out to Luke Coulson who saw his low cross put into the net by substitute Palace Francis from 6 yards.
This seemed to be game over but Tonbridge are resilient and never give up and in the 89th minute got the equaliser, a Beere corner to the near post was dropped by Ellery Balcome and Turner reacted the quickest and smashed it in from 1 yard.
The game then went into 6 minutes of added on time and in the last of these a long ball out saw Ibrahim Olutade collect it and go into the area and then passed to Turner who from 10 yards shot wide, the final whistle went and it was down to the lottery of penalties.
Tonbridge won the toss & went first:
Tom Parkinson had his saved Chris Bush had his saved
Tom Wood scored Joe Partington scored
Ibrahim Olutade hit the cross bar Jack Cawley scored
Tom Beere scored Luke Coulson scored
Joe Turner had his saved
Bromley win 3-2 on Penalties
TONBRIDGE ANGELS:
- J.HENLY 2. T.PARKINSON 3. C.BARHAM-BARRETT 4. T.BEERE 5. S.MILES 6. H.HUDSON 7. J.FIELDING (86) 8. A.LOVATT 9. T.WOOD 10. J.TAYLOR (78) 11. J.TURNER
SUBS USED: 16. A.SMITH-JOSEPH (78) 12. I.OLUTADE (86)
SUBS NOT USED: 14. J.O’SULLIVAN 15. D.LOFT 17. B.HERMITAGE 18. T.McKIMM 19 T.GREEN
BOOKINGS: 2. T.PARKINSON (73)
SENT OFF: 6 H.HUDSON (72)
BROMLEY:
- E.BALCOME 2. J.PARTINGTON 15. B.MARGETSON 34. J.CAWLEY 27. K.FISHER 24. M.SAQBLIER 18. C.WHITELY (45) 8. J.ATHURS 11. L.DENNIS (84) 10. J.ALABI 14. M.BLOOMFIELD (63)
SUBS USED: 7.L.COULSON (45) 26. P.FRANCIS (63) 5. C.BUSH (84)
SUBS NOT USED: 1. M.COUSINS 9. M.CHEEK 16. L.TROTTER 17. B.WEBSTER
BOOKINGS: 10. J.ALABI (60)
REFEREE: Mr J.DURKIN
ASSISTANTS: Mr S.ELSON & Mr H.GILROY
4th OFFICIAL: Mr G.BYRNE
ATTENDANCE: 2061
Picture supplied by Tonbridge Angels.