Bromley failed to make home advantage count for the third successive time in the league, this time losing out to Altrincham. Hayes Lane welcomed the BT Sports cameras for the fixture and it was Lee Sinnot’s side who took all three points live on national TV.
An injury plagued Bromley side welcomed back Ben Chorley, Louis Dennis and Anthony Cook to the starting eleven after missing out the midweek tie against Boreham Wood. A similarly injury struck Altrincham put out the same line up that lost 3-0 to Macclesfield midweek with danger man Damien Reeves spearheading the attack.

A minutes silence was observed before kick-off in remembrance and in solidarity for the victims of the Paris attacks on Friday night. Following the tribute the match was underway with The Robins wasting no time in getting the ball forward. Ben Chorley had to make an early headed clearance inside the box but it was Bromley with the first real eye for goal. Talisman Moses Emmanuel drifted into the 18-yard area, but a heavy touch allowed Altrincham’s Heathcote to get a challenge in and get rid of any danger. Bromley had another half-chance moments later when Cook latched onto a misplaced pass in the middle of the park. He then found Louis Dennis on the wing, but his cross, aimed at Lee Minshull, was marginally over hit leaving Deasy in the Altrincham goal at ease.

It was then The Robins’ turn to apply some pressure. Two corners in a matter of minutes troubled Bromley shot stopper Chris Ketting’s, but nothing clinical came from them. Bowerman was then gifted a sight of goal but pressure from Ben Chorley proved enough to see him miscue his shot wide of the target. Altrincham retained the ball well and again posed questions of the Bromley defence, another corner saw Scott Leather put his header wide of the mark. Moments later and Altrincham had taken the lead. Crowther was allowed to cross from the left, after Bromley had time to clear the danger, and his fizzing ball was met by Reeves whose glanced header went into the corner of the net.

This proved to be a setback for Bromley that willingly fired the front men into ascendancy. On the 30 minute mark Jack Holland displayed his attacking ability with a neat turn on the edge of the area. He then played in Emmanuel who found himself in a shooting position just inside the box, but Tim Deasy kept out the league’s top scorer. Deasy, despite his very best efforts, couldn’t keep out Emmanuel minutes later though. Holland again the provider, playing Moses in whose effort took a wicked deflection and looped over the Altrincham ‘keeper. Many in the ground had thought Deasy did enough to keep the ball out, but the ball had in fact gone well over the line and referee David Rock and his assistant were justified to award the goal.

Up until the interval Bromley were very much posing an immediate threat, Holland went close from a Louis Dennis corner and Emmanuel was once again denied by Tim Deasy between the sticks for Altrincham. At half time the teams went in with the tie all square, with most in the ground expecting Bromley to come out in the 2nd half as they finished the 1st.

But they were to be proved wrong as it was Altrincham who started brightly and took the lead for the second time on the 50th minute. Bromley were once again the architects of their own downfall. With a couple of chances to clear their lines, it was who Cook gave the chance to The Robins’ O’Keefe to strike a shot away on goal. And strike he did, beating Ketting’s down to his right. It was then the unfortunate Udoji to display further defensive frailties seconds later. Jordan Sinnott fired the ball into the Bromley danger area, Udoji didn’t time his clearance well and the ball fell to Reeves to dink home his second of the match. 3-1 to Altrincham after 51 minutes and the game was well out of Bromley’s hands.

Bromley were then chasing the game from then onwards with manager Mark Goldberg calling upon Ben May and Pierre Joseph-Dubois to make impacts from the bench. Neither had a chance in the remaining period of the game but Lee Minshull went closest for Bromley, striking the outside of the post from around 10 yards. The battle between Moses Emmanuel and Tim Deasy continued with the latter pulling off one final save for the cameras, denying the Bromley frontman from close range midway through the second period. Bromley huffed and puffed towards the end but could not get themselves back into the game with Altrincham getting a valuable three points on the road. That sees them begin to bridge a slight margin between them and 21st placed Torquay whilst The Ravens have slipped to 9th, still within 3 points of a play-off spot. Bromley are next in action is this Tuesday night with a trip to Whitstable in the Kent Senior Cup. Bromley’s next league match is this forthcoming Saturday away to Macclesfield Town.

Report by James Tanner.