TEN-MAN Bromley fought back from going to a goal behind early on to open their league campaign with victory over visiting Dorchester Town on Saturday.

With four players making their debuts, and two more returning to the fold, Bromley started poorly and conceded a goal in the seventh minute.

Jerome Sobers conceded a clumsy free-kick on the right touch line and full back Ryan Hill stepped up to send a sweetly-struck strike from 30 yards into the far corner of the net, past a startled Jamie Butler in the Bromley goal.

It should have been two minutes later, as Hill just failed to hit the target with another free-kick.

Matt Groves nearly made the most of John Scarborough’s slip on the edge of the area to smash a fierce low shot against the foot of the far post in the 12th minute, only for the Dorchester front man to then shoot the loose ball over the bar.

Bromley were rather fortunate to level the scores on 34 minutes when Wes Daly picked up a clearance just outside of the area.

His half volley seemed to be heading for the keeper Regan Coward’s arms when it deflected off a prostrate Paul Vines to wrong-foot the custodian and trickle over the line.

Bromley missed a gilt-edged chance to go ahead four minutes later when Coward upended McDonnell on the six yard box after he had been put clear on goal by Harrison Dunk.

The keeper was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card and further blessed when McDonnell scooped a poorly taken spot kick high above the bar.

Bromley enjoyed their best passage of play leading up to the interval and, following a flowing movement, Coward positioned himself well to deny Daly before Tony Finn created himself an excellent chance but pulled his shot wide of the far post.

The visitors started the second half strongly, with Butler punching away a couple of dangerous looking punts into the danger zone before Hill drilled another long distance free-kick into the Bromley keeper’s arms.

Bromley responded with Vines heading narrowly wide from Finn’s free-kick before Warren McBean was introduced on the hour for McDonnell and the change paid dividends shortly after.

Finn was fouled on the right touch line in a similar position to Dorchester’s goal.

He took the free-kick and picked out McBean, who headed home powerfully from six yards on 71 minutes.

The visitors almost levelled two minutes later when Hill’s 35-yard free-kick was brilliantly turned around the post by a full stretch Butler.

At the other end, Finn’s free kick scraped the outside of the upright.

With five minutes remaining, Bromley were reduced to 10 men when Sobers was shown a second yellow card for bringing down Ryan Moss just inside the area, but Hill’s penalty was superbly turned around by Butler diving to his right.

Butler blocked substitute Stuart Douglas’s effort late on to deny Dorchester a point their display probably deserved.

Bromley: Butler, Graves, Dunk, Daly, Scarborough, Sobers, Finn, Henriques, Vines (Boyle 86), McDonnell (McBean 60), Dolby. Subs not used: Jordan, Jones, Fray. Att: 458.