Bromley exacted revenge on their Boxing Day conquerers with a 3-0 win over Dover Athletic on New Year's Day.
The Ravens fell to defeat by the same scoreline in the reverse fixture a week ago, but buoyed by a 3-0 win over Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday they overcame a Dover side who boasted the best away record in the league comfortably.
The first real chance of the game fell to the home side as Luke Coulson delivered a free kick towards the head of Dean Winfield but his effort was parried away by Yusuf Mersin in the Dover goal. However, the flag was up for offside.
The visitors started the better of the two sides as they came down Bromley’s left-hand side and ex Bromley man Bobby Joe-Taylor crossed for Ricky Modeste at the back post but he was unable to keep his shot on target.
11 minutes on the clock and a huge chance for Dover to take the lead. A defence splitting pass and a lack of marking from Bromley as Inih Effiong found himself in acres of space and somehow managed to put his effort wide of the target from 10 yards out.
Two chances in two minutes for Effiong as he once again found himself through on goal with just Ryan Huddart to beat. The Bromley keeper saved well but the flag did eventually go up for offside.
Dover really should be ahead in the game but did not make their pressure count as Effiong misses his third chance of the game by scuffing a cut back from Modeste. Bromley were struggling to get a foothold in the game.
Dave Winfield, not for the first time in the game, got a chance to put Bromley ahead after the ball bounced around and found the centre half, but his shot was deflected over the crossbar.
The away side are nearly in front as Nassim L’Ghoul’s free kick was headed on to the crossbar by a Dover head.
A few moments later and a long ball headed towards Effiong who was being marked by Winfield, the two collided and Winfield ended up on the floor holding his knee. The centre half got taken off with Jordan Higgs being his replacement.
Just before half time Sam Wood crossed towards Ben Williamson who swivelled and got his shot blocked, sending the ball for a Bromley corner. From the resulting corner the referee pointed to the spot after Joe Kizzi was man handled at the back post. Frankie Raymond stepped up and coolly finished beyond Mersin despite the keeper diving the right way.
Half time and the home side were in front despite Dover being in control of proceedings.
3 minutes into the second half and Joe-Taylor’s cross-come-shot nearly found the far top corner but Huddart was able to dive and parry the ball away from the goal.
A second goal for the home side then came. Josh Rees found himself surging towards the Dover goal on the counter attack. Coulson was running up in support with Rees but he didn’t need him. The midfielder beat two players before sliding the ball with his left foot into the far bottom corner. A brilliant solo goal and the ravens found themselves two goals to the good.
A couple of minutes later and Rees almost had his second of the game. His effort from long range was saved by Mersin, however, he was only able to parry the ball into Williamson’s path but the forward was adjudged to have been offside.
Bromley continued to dominate and another chance came along through Raymond. He worked the ball onto his left foot and took aim, but his shot dipped over the crossbar.
Rees had two further chances to add to his and Bromley’s tally, but volleyed into the turf and over the bar, before shooting over from close range as time drew on.
However, Bromley weren’t to be denied a deserved third three minutes from time. Substitute Reeco Hackett-Fairchild’s excellent arced ball over the top found the feet of Cheek, who got ahead of his man and went one on one with Merson, finishing clinically.
Deep into injury time, substitute Andre Coker almost added a stunning fourth, but after cutting in and getting the better of Effiong, his well struck, dipping effort was tipped over the bar by Mersin.
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