A flat performance at Plainmoor on Tuesday night saw Bromley return home with no points and probably more worrying for Neil Smith no goals.

In neither category can Bromley count themselves unfortunate as Torquay United were deserved winners on the night and but for Alan Julian and some wayward finishing it may yet have been a more handsome scoreline.

Reacting to Saturday’s opening day defeat to Tranmere Rovers manager Neil Smith kept the same starting XI but changed the shape, Bromely lined up in a more compact 4-4-2 with Blair Turgott on the right wing and David Martin on the left.

For the most part the change in shape worked in stifling the threat of the hosts but as the first half wore on Torquay were always the more threatening side going forward. The opening chance of the half came within five minutes of the kick-off, Bromley failed to clear their lines from a corner and when Luke Young sent a cross back into the penalty area an unmarked Ben Geering sent his header wide of the far post.

The biggest talking point of the half came on 20 minutes, Tobi-Sho Silva did well to take advantage of ponderous defending but as he bore down on goal he was fouled on the edge of the area by Sean McGinty. It was hard to see under what circumstance McGinty could not be viewed as the last man but referee Sam Allison choose to only produce a yellow card. From the resultant free-kick Martin drilled the effort wide.

Two quick opportunities on the half hour mark saw Torquay briefly enter a level of ascendancy; firstly Nathan Blissett did well to dispossess Joe Howe before playing in Luke Young who could only shoot straight at Julian. Brett Williams went close a minute later when he ran on to Dan Sparkes through ball but fired his fierce effort just wide of the post.

Adam Cunnington will perhaps think he should have done better in the 36^th minute when he put a far post header wide after good work by Martin down the left wing and Bromley were to rue that miss five minutes later.

Following more pressure from Torquay and several last ditch tackles Bromley were undone by a set piece. Geering rose unchallenged to powerfully head home Sparkes’ corner four minutes before the interval. It was no more than Torquay deserved based on their control of the possession and tempo of the game.

That said Cunnington will perhaps wonder if he could have done better when presented with a golden opportunity courtesy of some woeful goalkeeping by Brendan Moore. Moore’s fluffed clearance went straight to Cunnington, in the penalty area, who from an angle could only succeed in toe poking his effort back to the keeper.

Half-time presented an opportunity for Neil Smith to speak to his charges about the need to get on the ball and to try and keep possession as too often the front two had allowed the ball to come straight back piling pressure on the Bromley backline.

However buoyed by the go ahead goal, Torquay proceeded to dominate the proceedings in the second half as Bromley rarely threatened to break their goal duck for the season.

As early as the 49^th minute Torquay served warning of their intentions when McGinty headed just over from an excellent Young free-kick.  Williams went much closer minutes later when he cut in from the by-line and smashed a wonderful effort against the Bromley crossbar.

The closest Bromley were to come in the half came from a low drilled effort from Cunnington that Moore saved at the second attempt. That the effort came in the 57^th minute and Bromley were not to seriously threaten the Torquay goal again sums up the current attacking woes that Neil Smith must address.

Blissett who had given Ben Chorley and Jack Holland a thorough examination all night was next to go close for Torquay just flicking Sparkes’ cross over the bar when under pressure. He went even closer five minutes later when he dispossessed Reece Prestedge on the edge of the box but Julian was able to save Blissest’s effort with his feet. As if a personal duel between Blissett and Julian was taking place, the Bromley custodian was to smother yet another effort from Blissett, in the 76^th minute. Blissett did well to beat two Bromley defenders following a quick throw-in but Julian denied him at the last.

Blair Turgott briefly put a stop to the Torquay pressure with an effort from 20 yards but it drew a comfortable save from Moore.

In injury time and with Bromley desperately surging forward trying to seek parity a Torquay counter attack found them in a three on two situation, however despite Young and Sparkes successfully interchanging passes to break free Young was unable to beat Julian as his final finish lacked both the power and precision to beat the Bromley man of the match.

The only surprise at the full-time whistle was that Torquay had only won by the one goal, that goal margin on paper must not, however, be allowed to gloss over what was a below par performance by the Ravens. Albeit two games into the season is no time to over-react or make sweeping changes it is clear that at the moment the side lacks cohesive creativity and a clear attacking threat. With minimal efforts on goal or clear cut opportunities created over the opening two games it is unclear at the moment where or how the first Bromley goal of the season will arrive. Undoubtedly this gives plenty of food for thought for Neil Smith who may well seek to shuffle the pack at Solihull Moors on Saturday in search of not only goals but hopefully a point or three.

 

Torquay United:  Moore, Rowe-Turner, Lathorpe (Chaney 46), Gerring, Young, Blissett, Richards©, Sparkes, Verma, Williams (Reid 62), McGinty

Subs not used: Scrivens, Robba, Nicholson

 

Bromley:  Julian, Howe, Chorley, Holland ©, Martin (Goldberg 70), Cunnington, Anderson, Prestedge, Turgott, Porter (Dymond 82), Sho-Silva,

Subs not used: Johnson, Swaine, Porter

 

Referee: Mr Sam Allison

Attendance: 2,279 (40 Bromley)