Two second half errors saw Bromley lose their unbeaten record although in truth a horrific collision that saw Mark Cousins have to depart the field of play, after three minutes, proved to be the real turning point.

Bromley had taken a surprise first half lead through Michael Cheek but were pegged back by a Jimmy Smith header in first half injury time. A Marc Anthony-Okoye own goal and Charlie Lee header then sealed the win for the Glovers in the second half.

Bromley manager Neil Smith had named an unchanged side from Tuesday night’s win over Woking but his plans for the game were thrown into disarray as early as the 3rd minute of the game.

Yeovil striker Rhys Murphy chased a long ball that Cousins reached first but both players collided heavily leaving both prone on the turf. 

All medical staff rushed on instantly and whilst Murphy was eventually able to leave the pitch of his own accord, a 18 minute delay in action saw very careful steps taken to remove Cousins who had to depart on a spinal board amidst very worrying scenes.

The Bromley custodian had been knocked unconscious in the collision and was later revealed to have suffered a concussion and a rupture of the AC joint in his shoulder.

With no reserve goalkeeper on the bench, Bromley were forced to put centre back Chris Bush in goal whilst Jack Holland replaced Cousins.

Despite being behind the 8-ball it was Bromley who actually reacted better and they promptly took the lead on the resumption of play.

Alfie Doughty’s free kick was headed back across goal by Joe Kizzi and Cheek was on hand to slot past Adam Smith for his 7th goal of the season.

They should have doubled their lead moments later when Doughty out-paced the Yeovil defence but as he cut into the penalty area he hesitated and instead of passing to an unmarked Coulson for a tap in shot straight at Smith.

Bromley to their credit defended well for the large majority of the half and prevented Yeovil from testing  Bush. Further opportunities fell Bromley’s way but neither Kizzi nor Josh Rees could hit the target.

Yeovil did however force an equaliser with their first genuine chance of the game. In the 2nd minute of 19 minutes of first half injury time. Smith headed home from substitute Lawson D’Ath’s cross.

The goal changed the complexion of the game and it galvanised Yeovil who emerged after the interval the better team and in the ascendancy for much of the second half.

After Kizzi had planted a header into the side netting just shy of the hour mark following a Coulson cross the Glovers took a stranglehold of the game and had Bromley on the backfoot for the remainder of the half.

That pressure finally told albeit in comical circumstances. Craig Alcock’s cross bobbled in the penalty area and as Okoye tried to clear he could only succeed in toe-poking past a flat-footed Bush in the Bromley goal.

Within minutes Yeovil had a third and the game was over. Carl Dickinson’s free kick was met by Lee at the backpost and his looping header was misjudged by Bush as it nestled in the far corner of the net.

The remainder of the game played out to little or no incident as Yeovil prevented Bromley from finding any way back into the contest.

The win saw Yeovil move up to third on the back of what is now seven league wins in a row.

For Bromley it brings an end to a fantastic start to the season but given the misfortune that struck them so early in the game a defeat was always the most likely result. 

They will now face a race against time to bring in a suitable goalkeeper on loan ahead of next week’s league encounter with Barrow.

Yeovil Town: A.Smith; Alcock, Collins, Wilkinson, Dickinson; Lee, Worthington (Tilley 67), Hippolyte, J.Smith (Skendi 87); Murphy (D’Ath 7), Omotayo.

Bookings: Lee, Worthington, Omotayo, Wilkinson.

Subs not used: Bradbury, Hutton.

Goals: Smith 45+2, Okoye (og) 72, Lee 77

Bromley (4-2-3-1): Cousins (Holland 8); Kizzi, Okoye, Bush, Wood; Rees, Bingham; Coulson (McCoulsky 75), Hackett-Fairchild, Doughty (Clifton 56); Cheek

Bookings: Bush, Kizzi.

Subs not used:  Mekki, Klass.

Goals: Cheek 22

Referee: Aaron Jackson

Attendance: 3963