Andy Woodman tasted defeat for the first time since taking charge as Bromley manager when they were beaten narrowly by Chesterfield.
Following their excellent win at Halifax on Saturday, Woodman was able to field an unchanged Bromley team. However, it was the visitors who came out the brightest. Laurence Maguire’s hooked shot was deflected over before Danny Rowe created space for himself by chopping back onto his right foot but he could only curl his effort over.
Joe Kizzi had Bromley’s first effort but his half volley on the spin flew well over.
Wing backs George Carline and Joel Taylor caused Bromley a number of problems and a fierce Taylor shot from Carline’s cross rattled the bar. Taylor got into the box again but angled his low shot just wide of the far post.
Kairo Mitchell had a meek chip shot saved easily by Mark Cousins before Bromley threatened again when Jack Bridge went on one of his thrilling trademark runs and unleashed a shot that missed the angle of post and bar.
Alex Mitchell appeared to have a good shout for a penalty for Bromley turned down when his shirt was almost pulled over his head but the visitors had the last chance of the first half when Martin Smith drove just wide from the edge of the box after Rowe’s dangerous cross was headed out by Mitchell.
Early in the second period, Mitchell was called upon to make a good block from Carline and the visitors marauding right sided man again got on the end of a Taylor cross but he was crowded out and Cousins was able to clear up.
Six minutes into the second half, the deadlock was broken. A long ball forward should have been cut out but Jack Clarke made the most of being allowed through with a fierce drive that gave Cousins no chance.
Grant Smith made an excellent finger tip save from Bridge before Chris Bush came close to putting into his own net when inadvertently diverting Nathan Tyson’s driven cross just past the near post.
Midway through the second period the Ravens levelled. Chesterfield’s passing around at the back got them in trouble when Michael Cheek hurried Smith into a desperate clearance. It came out as far as Jude Arthurs and he showed great composure in chipping it back over the goalkeeper and into the net.
Cousins claimed easily when Carline met Tyson’s cross but was powerless to stop the visitors from regaining the lead shortly afterwards. Taylor sent over another deep cross and Carline again came in from the right to side-foot volley beyond the helpless Bromley custodian.
Bush aimed a shot from wide towards the top corner but Smith got across to punch it around the post before Charlie Fox headed wide from Frankie Raymond’s delivery.
Raymond shot over from thirty yards before coming desperately close from the edge of the area but Smith got down to make a great low save.
Despite additional time of nearly nine minutes, Bromley couldn’t find a leveller and Chesterfield leap-frogged their hosts into the play-off places.
Bromley are back at Hayes Lane on Spring Bank Holiday Monday when they host Hartlepool United in their penultimate home game of the season.
Bromley: Cousins, Kizzi, Fox, Bingham, Mitchell, Bush, Arthurs, Coulson (Raymond 52), Cheek, Williamson (Alabi 57) Bridge. Subs not used: Trotter, Vincent, Campbell.
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