BROMLEY breathed a huge sigh of relief after securing Conference South football for another season, despite being beaten 4-2 at Maidenhead United on Saturday.

Two second half goals from former Lillywhites player Richard Pacquette helped his latest club Maidenhead United to a comprehensive victory at York Road.

But the three teams who could have overtaken Bromley in the table all lost their games, meaning survival for the Hayes Lane side.

Bromley put in yet another dismal performance, as they were totally outplayed for much of the game by their fellow strugglers.

Their main antagonist was left winger Harry Pritchard, who led Sanchez Ming a merry dance from the off, and he was instrumental in three of the goals, while hitting the bar and having a goal-bound shot well saved by Joe Welch.

Pacquette shot over after just five minutes following a mis-kick by Jack Holland.

David Pratt screwed his effort wide when well-placed and Michael Pook curled a free-kick around the defensive wall and just past the post.

The visitors fell behind in the 16th minute when Pritchard skipped around four defenders before squaring across goal for a simple tap in by Pratt.

It was all square five minutes later as Moses Swaibu headed Ishmael Welsh’s corner downwards and Danny Waldren stooped to head home past Billy Lumley.

Pritchard’s stinging drive came back off the bar and another Pook free-kick was just wide of the post before the home side retook the lead on 33 minutes. A long ball down the middle by Rhys Paul picked out Pritchard, whose first time pass put Reece Tison-Lascaris in to round Welch and score into an empty net.

Elliott Buchanan and Louie Theophanous both had efforts on goal following good work from Pierre Joseph-Dubois and then Welch did well to deny Pacquette as the striker got on the end of a Pritchard cross.

Welch was soon in action following the interval as he denied man of the match Pritchard with his legs following a poor defensive headed cklearance, but there was little he could do to prevent Maidenhead’s third goal on 62 minutes.

Pacquette, completely unmarked, arrived at the far post to head home Pritchard’s right-wing corner from close range.

Paul somehow managed to put a right-wing cross over the bar from two yards before a series of substitutions and a 71st minute sending off disrupted play and ended any hope of a revival by Bromley.

Waldren was given a straight red card for something he said to the referee, following a foul for which Bromley were awarded a free-kick.

Bromley were thrown a lifeline with nine minutes remaining as Joseph-Dubois flicked home to reduce the deficit.

But it was all in vain as Maidenhead restored their two-goal advantage two minutes later when Pacquette notched his second of the afternoon after being set up by Tison-Lascaris.

Maidenhead’s victory saw them leapfrog Bromley in the table, as the hosts displayed more desire, commitment, energy and determination to get themselves out of trouble.

Bromley lacked all those attributes and looked disinterested for most of the game.

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Bromley: Welch, Ming, Patterson (Orome 78), Waldren, Swaibu, Holland, Joseph-Dubois, Buchanan, Theophanous (Talbot 67), Jones, Welsh (Rhule 67). Subs not used: O’Connor, Noble. Att: 422.