A slick performance from Bromley at Park View Road on Saturday afternoon ensured they saw off local rivals Welling United 3-1, in a showing which will excite and encourage fans ahead of the impending National League kickoff. The Welling side included several ex-Bromley players; Pierre Joseph-Dubois, Bradley Goldberg, Connor Dymond, Alfie Pavey,

Though the Wings started the game off the brighter of the two sides, it was the Ravens, donning their new yellow third strip, who had the first chance of note, and Brett Williams was the man to have it, rising high and flicking a header a matter of inches wide of the post, with the goalkeeper beaten. Ben Jefford then went close for the home side, but his first time effort from a whipped free kick was well held by David Gregory.

On 18 minutes, the breakthrough came. After a clearance from Gregory was flicked into the path of Louis Dennis, the front man took on the entire Welling defence and somehow wriggled his way through multiple challenges before surging into the penalty area and having a low shot, which was well parried by the goalkeeper, but only into the path of Iffy Allen, who tapped home into an empty net.

After former Welling man Luke Wanadio had a shot saved and Josh Rees headed narrowly wide, it was Dennis again who was causing havoc in the opposition half, this time curling a low effort towards goal which hit the base of the post. Joseph Dubois could have levelled things up after that, but saw his effort from inside the box go just over the bar.

On 43 minutes, Bromley doubled their lead. After persistence from Dennis and Wanadio, the latter delivered a pinpoint cross into the penalty area where Rees was on hand to flick a header past the rooted goalkeeper and into the bottom corner for his third pre-season goal in as many matches.

After the break, the pace of the game slowed a bit, and the Wings got themselves back into it after 65 minutes, when Tom Bradbrook headed in a free kick at the back post, a goal which Bromley will have been frustrated to have conceded. However, the Ravens’ two goal cushion was restored just three minutes later, when Frankie Raymond’s free kick delivery evaded everyone in the box, including the goalkeeper, and crept into the net.

Williams and substitute Alan Dunne both shot wide as time drew on, and Adam Mekki had a shot blocked after a surging run into the box, but the score remained the same until the final whistle.

Report by Matt Hall