A 35th minute Michael Cheek penalty was enough to secure Bromley’s progress to the First Round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Sutton began the first half on the front foot, with David Ajiboye seeing plenty of the ball early on and having a chance to give his side the lead just four minutes in, but he couldn’t steer a deep cross goalwards.

In windy conditions, Bromley battled their way into the match and should have taken the lead on seven minutes. Liam Trotter was first to reach a deep cross from Taylor Maloney and controlled it well, but could only blaze a volley over the bar from close range.

Some more slick attacking play followed soon after, as Luke Coulson’s delightful ball over the top set Michael Cheek in down the left, but his low cross couldn’t be directed goalwards by Ben Williamson.

After 20 minutes, some good wing play from Nassim L’Ghoul engineered space on the right, and despite taking a deflection, his cross found Cheek on the edge of the box, but he could only power a first time effort over the crossbar.

The hosts soon hit back, and after Bromley failed to clear a loose ball in their own box, former Raven Omar Bugiel was able to direct a powerful header at goal, which forced an excellent save from Mark Cousins, who tipped it away from danger.

However, the real drama came on 34 minutes. After Byron Webster was fouled in the box, referee Alan Dale pointed to the spot without hesitation. Up stepped Cheek, and the front man netted his third goal of the season with a thumping strike.

With chances few and far between in the remainder of the first half, the Ravens headed into the break a goal to the good.

More drama would follow at the end of what was a second half with few clear cut chances.

Will randall engineered space for himself to deliver a cross early on in the second half, but after an excellent delivery reached the six yard box, no Amber shirts were on hand to profit. Sutton persisted as they looked to level things up, but the lively David Ajiboye could only fire wide after weaving in and out of challenges on the edge of the box.

Another former Bromley man, Tobi Sho-Silva, glanced two close range headers wide of goal as Sutton continued to apply the pressure, but failed to create any danger to Cousins.

Harry Forster, a second half substitute for the Ravens, drove at the Sutton back line with pace and delivered an excellent ball across the face of goal, but neither Cheek, nor Reeco Hackett-Fairchild were close enough to profit.

Bromley did have their hearts in their mouths for a brief moment around ten minutes from time, but substitute Isaac Olaofe’s header, which beat Cousins, was chalked off for offside.

As time drew on, Bromley remained organised and restricted the hosts to very few clear cut chances. They could have sealed the tie in injury time, but Frankie Raymond’s low effort was parried away by Dean Bouzanis.

Unfortunately, there was enough time left for some unsavoury scenes as time drew to a close. Coby Rowe somehow escaped a straight red card when following through on Liam Trotter with his studs showing, before a mass confrontation ensued, resulting in Webster receiving a straight red card, and three Sutton players being booked.

However, despite this, Bromley managed to hold on for the remaining moments and progress to the next round.

Bromley XI: Cousins, Kyprianou, Bush, Coulson (Forster), Cheek, Roberts, Maloney (Raymond), Trotter, Webster, Williamson, L’Ghoul (Hackett-Fairchild)

Unused substitutes: Alabi, Purrington, Vincent, Edwards (GK)