BROMLEY are still looking for their first home victory of 2010 following another dismal performance at Hayes Lane on Saturday when they were beaten by a strong Staines Town team.
Both of Staines’ goals were gift wrapped from two poorly defended corners either side of half-time to give the visitors a victory which lifted them into fourth position in the table.
Staines started the brighter of the two teams and former Lilly Ali Chabaan shot wide from a central position in the fifth minute before Jerrome Sobers headed Howard Newton’s shot off the line a few minutes later.
The visitors opened the scoring on 19 minutes when a low bobbling Leroy Griffiths corner went through the legs of Ryan Dolby on the near post and evaded keeper Gareth Williams to leave Chabaan a simple tap in from close range.
Richard Butler was through on goal on 25 minutes but, under pressure from on loan Charlton defender Yado Mambo, he could only toe punt his effort into the side netting from a tight angle.
Butler’s delicate chip put Ryan Hall away on the byline five minutes later, only for his cross to go straight to Staines keeper Louis Wells.
The visitors might have increased their advantage in the 33rd minute when, following a defensive mix-up, Chabaan was first to react but scuffed his shot wide of the post.
Griffiths and Newton went close for the visitors, while Butler had a half chance when his 25 yard volley went over the bar.
The second period saw Bromley encamped in the Staines half, but they failed to create any decent chances, lacking the cutting edge where it mattered most.
Sobers saw an early header from Ashley Carew’s free-kick go straight into the arms of Wells and another Carew free-kick was nudged over the bar by a falling keeper.
From the resultant corner, the ball was cleared only as far as Dolby who failed to hit the target with his shot before Hall fired just wide of the upright a few moments later.
Staines increased their lead with their first attack of the second period on 76 minutes when a quickly taken Griffiths corner was headed home by a completely unmarked Marc Charles-Smith from within the six yard box, giving Williams no chance.
Substitute Steve Ferguson was wide of the mark with his effort, while Phil Ruggles and Warren McBean also went close late on as Bromley tried to get themselves back in contention.
The closest they came to reducing the arrears came from a Staines defender, when he stooped low to head an in-swinging corner against his own keeper two minutes from the final whistle.
Bromley will attempt to bounce back next Saturday when they visit Braintree Town, kick-off 3pm.
Bromley: Williams, Green (Ruggles, 79), Dolby, Daly, Sobers, Gillman, Carew (Ferguson, 74), Ibrahima, McBean, Butler, Hall. Subs not used: I’Anson, Henriques, Davis. Att: 426.
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