Bromley put to bed any lingering relegation fears by grinding out an impressive victory at in-form York City.

The home side’s bottom 4 position belied their impressive recent run of form and a win tonight would pull them out of the relegation places, whilst simultaneously dragging their opponents into a relegation dogfight.

Bromley hadn’t netted an away goal in over 7 hours of football, but they took only 2 minutes to break the deadlock and silence the vociferous home support. Louis Dennis latched onto a through ball following an incisive Bromley move, before slotting past Loach.

This goal sparked the home side into life and soon the imposing figure of Jon Parkin was making his presence felt, outmuscling visiting captain Jack Holland in the box before being denied by a last-ditch tackle from Dan Johnson.

York kept up the pressure, with Vadaine Oliver and Parkin both keeping the Bromley defence busy, while at the other end Bromley’s best chance fell to Blair Turgott, who had a 25 yard free kick flaboyantly saved by Loach.

Despite significant home pressure, it was the Ravens who nearly extended their lead again a couple of minutes before the break when a sweeping move involving Porter and the impressive Joe Anderson set Shane McLoughlin free, but his shot was palmed away just out of reach of the onrushing Bromley attackers.

The final chance of an even first half fell to York defender and non league veteran Hamza Bencherif, who headed just wide from a corner.

Gary Mills may have had one or two robust words with his side at half time, as it was York who came out all guns blazing for the second half. Alex Whittle was the first to come close through a rasping 20 yard drive which Flitney did well to palm away.

Shortly after that, Vadaine Oliver hit the bar with a close range header following one of umpteen long throws by York substitute Sam Muggleton. It was therefore decidedly against the run of play when Bromley doubled their lead.

An innocuous looking foul on George Porter on the right hand side allowed Joe Anderson to curl in a delicious free kick and Tobi Sho-Silva beat Loach to the ball, glancing into the empty net to the delight of the 59 away fans behind the goal.

This was the cue for a York onslaught. A mixture of heroic Bromley defending and luckless York finishing contriving to keep the home side off the scoresheet.

Captain Jack Holland, making his 200th appearance for the club, was one of a number of players throwing everything in front of the ball as wave after wave of attacks were launched towards the Bromley goal. Both Amari Morgan-Smith and Parkin came close, however try as they might, the home side could not find a way past Flitney and with the introduction from the bench of the powerful, pacey Shabazz Omofe, Bromley pushed forward with renewed vigour in the last fifteen minutes, going close through both Blair Turgott, Omofe and McLoughlin.

Turgott in particular may have been disappointed not to have sealed the win, striking straight at Loach when set through on goal.

In the end, the visitors were able to see the game out and claim their first away win of 2017. In doing so, they cross the magical 50 point threshold and can breathe a little more easily knowing that a third season of National league football should have been confirmed by inflicting what was only York’s second defeat in their last 11 games.

The Minstermen’s fight to preserve their National League status will continue into the final throes of the season.

 

York: Loach, Whittle (Holmes), Heslop (c), Morgan-Smith, Hall (Fenwick), Oliver, Parkin, Newton, Moke (Muggleton), Parslow, Bencherif.

Subs not used: Rooney, Klukowski

Bromley: Flitney, Johnson, Dunne (Wynter) Holland (c), Porter, Dennis (McLoughlin), Dymond, Anderson, Higgs, Turgott, Sho-Silva (Omofe).

Subs not used: Hall, Goldberg

Att: 3000 (59 away)