Bromley hosted Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday afternoon in a game dedicated to the life and memory of Glyn Beverly. The two sides, with strong links to the late Beverly, battled it out for a memorial trophy in the pre-season friendly. 

The first chance fell the way of the Ravens just two minutes in, as Jack Holland’s flicked header from Frankie Raymond’s floated free kick was tipped over the crossbar by Preston Edwards.

Soon after, the Ravens found themselves with an opportunity to register a shot from just outside the box, with a Raymond free kick. Reece Meekums had been fouled after embarking on a long run from the halfway line to the Dulwich box, and the referee promptly awarded a free kick. Raymond stepped up to take, and was unlucky not to score, his effort ending up inches the wrong side of the crossbar.

Despite their early dominance, it would be Hamlet who would take the lead with their first attack of the game. Noreen Clunis broke through the Bromley defence and beat the offside trap, before slotting past the advancing David Gregory.

Matters wouldn’t ease for Bromley there, as Kyle De Silva was injured in the lead up to the goal, prompting an early substitution, which saw the introduction of Bobby-Joe Taylor.

The flow of the game then switched, with Dulwich growing in confidence and utilising the speed of the impressive Clunis. Byron Lawrence also caught the eye, and he went close just before the half hour mark, fizzing a 25 yard shot just over Gregory’s goal.

Bromley did have the ball in the net just four minutes later. Good link up play between Taylor and Meekums saw the former send in a floated cross towards the back post, where Omar Bugiel was waiting to head across goal. The ball was met by the head of George Porter, but his diving header was ruled out for offside.

They would go close once again on 39 minutes, as Taylor’s inswinging cross was headed against the crossbar by Dan Johnson, with Preston Edwards well beaten. Johnson threatened again from a cross just before half time, this time swivelling on the edge of the six yard box and getting a shot away, only to see Edwards make a good save.

After the break, it would again be Johnson who found himself in a good position to level things up. However, after seeing his initial header from a Bugiel cross blocked by Michael Chambers, his follow up was also denied, before Taylor slotted the loose ball wide.

He would again go close after 50 minutes. After Meekums’ pass was slotted into his path, he burst into the penalty area a struck a shot at goal, only for another good save from Edwards to deny him.

The Ravens would be further frustrated almost straight after. This time, he ran onto an excellent ball over the top from Raymond, before cutting inside and bearing down on goal and going one on one with Edwards, only to chip the ball into the side netting.

It seemed to be a recurring theme by this point, but Porter would have another good chance five minutes later. This time, Porter rose well to head Taylor’s cross at goal but was to be denied by Edwards again, who acrobatically tipped the ball over.

Bromley were completely dominating the game by the hour mark, and this time would be denied by a goal line clearance. A Raymond corner was whipped in to the six yard box, and former Dulwich defender Marc-Anthony Okoye was the man who rose highest, heading the ball at goal and beating Edwards, but not Chambers, who deflected it over the crossbar.

Substitute James O’Halloran would have Bromley’s next chance, 15 minutes before full time. After nipping onto a good through ball from Taylor, he went one on one with Hamlet substitute goalkeeper Amadou Taagara, but was denied by a well timed sliding block.

However, they would get a deserved, albeit rather fortunate equaliser on 79 minutes. Taylor raced onto a flick from O’Halloran and powered a volley into the six yard box, which was deflected into his own net by Quade Taylor.

The ball would be in the back of the Dulwich net once again moments later through a powerful, downwards Porter header, but it was again chalked off for offside.

The outcome of the match couldn’t be decided in normal time, and with no extra time being played, it went straight to penalties.

Converted penalties from Frankie Sutherland, George Porter, Bobby-Joe Taylor, Frankie Raymond were not enough for Bromley, after Roger Johnson, Jordan Higgs and Jake Goodman failed to score, ensuring Dulwich went on to win the inaugural Glyn Beverly Memorial Cup.

Bromley XI: Gregory, D.Johnson, R.Johnson, Holland (C), Raymond, Bugiel (O’Halloran), De Silva (Taylor), Higgs, Okoye (Goodman), Meekums (Sutherland), Porter.

Unused subs: Huxter (GK), Williams, Smith, Ogbeifun.

#WeAreBromley