Bromley were denied all three points on Boxing Day after a Ben Strevens brace gained a point for the South coast side. Bromley took the lead in the first half through Moses Emmanuel and went two in front early in the second half courtesy of Paul Rodgers. However, Bromley let the lead slip as Ben Strevens hit back with two headers leaving the game 2-2.

Bromley almost got off to a perfect start as Moses Emmanuel was set through on goal by a lofted through-ball. He coolly slotted the effort home but the linesman had flagged for offside due to Paul Rodgers’ intervention in the move. Eastleigh then took the forefront in the contest with Jai Reason having two efforts in the space of ten minutes. The first was fired straight in to the palms of, returning Bromley goalkeeper, Alan Julian. The second was blazed over the bar from inside the box.

Steven Pinau then went closest in the tie to scoring. He was set through on goal by Adam Cunnington, but a recovering Will Evans put in a strong challenge to deny the Bromley winger. Minutes later, however, Bromley had the lead. Pinau was at the start of the move putting in a huge effort to keep the ball in play on the left wing. He passed to Tumwa who put Emmanuel in one on one with Ross Flitnley and, in trademark fashion, chipped the ball over the Eastleigh keeper and into the net. The goal put The Ravens 1-0 up at the break.

Mark Goldberg would have wanted his side to come out in the second half just as they finished the first, and whatever he said in his team talk worked as Paul Rodgers put The Ravens 2-0 up in spectacular fashion just after the restart. After some persistent play on the left flank the ball fell to Rodgers who blasted the ball of the crossbar and into the top corner. Emmanuel could have put Bromley further into the lead moments later but he dragged his shot wide of the post.

Then on 55 minutes Eastleigh brought themselves back into the game. Josh Payne floated a perfect cross onto the head of Ben Strevens who beat Alan Julian in the Bromley goal. The goal definitely put the confidence back into the “Spitfires” and their leveller came moments after. Ben Strevens again on hand to head the ball into the goal, this time from a James Constable cross.

In the remaining 30 minutes of the game both sides were aiming to find the winner and it was Strevens again who was in the thick of things. The ball was fired into the Eastleigh striker but he could only see his effort fly over the crossbar. Both sides had half chances late on but no one could get the finishing touch to claim all three points.

At the start of the game Bromley would have welcomed a point as it sees an end to a 6 league match losing streak, which many of the 1708 in attendance would have been happy about. Bromley’s next match is against Dover this coming Monday at The Crabble.

A selection of photos from the 2-2 draw, courtesy of MPA Photography, can be found by clicking here>