Bromley progressed into the FA Trophy semi-finals by defeating Solihull Moors 3-1 in an action-packed game.

The game commenced in the worst possible way for the Ravens. James Clarke ran down the right wing, got past his marker and crossed the ball into the box where Callum Maycock was in the right place at the right time and finished with ease. Bromley were determined to respond and got their equaliser in the 13th minute. Chris Bush found Jude Arthurs inside the opposition’s penalty area, with Ryan Boot quickly coming out of his goal to prevent the cross from coming in.The ball then landed back to Arthurs who crossed from a tight angle and found Michael Cheek who headed in with only defenders on the line. A great week for the striker who was selected to represent England C.

Shortly after, Luke Coulson’s corner was powerfully headed by Chris Bush – with Boot doing well to save the effort.The game was played in a physical style by both sets of teams, with Jamey Osborne, from 25 yards, forcing Ellery Balcombe to get down low and palm away his effort that was heading into the bottom left corner. In the latter stages of the half, Bromley nearly took the lead. Michael Cheek received the ball on the edge of the penalty area, the striker expertly dinked the ball, with Boot beaten to only see his shot hit the post, with the ball then landing to Ali Al-Hamadi who forced a point blank save from the Solihull Moors keeper.

In the second half, Al-Hamadi got the ball and ran into the opposition’s half, before passing to Coulson on the edge of the penalty area. Coulson weaved his way past a couple of defenders before passing to Arthurs who shot over the bar. Immediately after the attack, Omar Sowunmi produced a last ditch challenge on Andrew Dallas inside Bromley’s penalty area to keep the score level.

In a frantic couple of minutes, Cheek received the ball on the right side of the Moors’ penalty area, cutting inside and getting past his markers before unleashing a powerful shot that beat Boot and gave Bromley the lead. Minutes later, Balcombe came to Bromley’s rescue once again, saving a long range effort from Ryan Barnett. 

With over half an hour remaining, Al-Hamadi, got down the wing, showing his pace before skilfully twisting and turning his way into the penalty area where he placed his shot over the bar. Bromley kept attacking, with this time Coulson stinging the fingertips of Boot with an effort from close range. In the last ten minutes of the game, Bush’s long range throw-in was spilled by Boot with Joe Partington taking advantage of the mistake,seeing his shot blocked off the line by Clarke.

Then the moment of the game arrived.James Alabi took the ball from his own half, bullying defenders left right and centre and got into the oppositions penalty area where he slotted the ball into the left of the goal, sending Bromley into the semi-finals of the FA Trophy. A brilliant goal from the forward.

Bromley will look to build on this positive result when they face Halifax Town away in midweek.

Bromley: 13 Elery Balcombe, 4 Billy Bingham, 5 Chris Bush (Cawley), 6 Omar Sowunmi (Partington), 7 Luke Coulson, 8 Jude Arthurs, 9 Michael Cheek,16 Liam Trotter, 17 Byron Webster (C),18 Corey Whitely, 37 Ali-Al-Hamadi (Alabi)

Unused substitutes: 1 Mark Cousins, 14 Mason Bloomfield, 22 George Alexander, 24 Marcus Sablier