Match Report

For the second season running Sutton’s FA Cup hopes ended at the 4th qualifying round stage when Michael Cheek’s penalty ten minutes before half time settled a scrappy game badly affected by the wind and rain that blew in throughout the afternoon. Well below their best in the first half, Sutton were a better side after the break and might have taken the game to penalties, particularly after the introduction of Isaac Olaofe with twenty minutes to go, but Bromley held out for the win and survived the late dismissal of captain Byron Webster, which came too late for U’s to take advantage.

U’s were able to welcome back Ben Goodliffe for his first competitive outing of the season, Craig Eastmond missing with a hamstring injury, and a poor first half saw both sides struggle with the conditions. Bromley had a clear early chance when Liam Trotter superbly controlled a cross from Taylor Maloney but then ruined his good work by blazing the ball over the bar from ten yards, while Sutton’s best moment came after twenty minutes, Webster’s headed clearance from Harry Beautyman’s cross looping up for Omar Bugiel to power in a header which was well saved by Mark Cousins, and Will Randall shooting narrowly wide as the ball ran loose.

The crucial moment came ten minutes before half time when Coby Rowe fouled Webster as they contested Chris Bush’s long throw, and Cheek’s penalty was delivered unstoppably in to the roof of the net.

Sutton came out for the second half looking much more lively, and David Ajiboye sent one low shot fizzing just wide. The best chance fell to Tobi Sho-Silva when he headed Randall’s cross wide from a good position, while Bugiel saw a lob drop just behind the goal and Ajiboye again narrowly missed the target from 20 yards. The arrival of Olaofe with twenty minutes to go increased the threat, and he thought he’d equalised when he dived to head in Ajiboye’s cross only for assistant Shaun Farrer to flag for offside. Soon afterwards Olaofe produced a fine darting run that was only ended by Trotter’s superb challenge in the penalty area.

Bromley substitute Frankie Raymond drew a good save from Dean Bouzanis on a rare late Bromley attack, but the game ended in unsavoury fashion as Rowe’s tackle on Trotter sparked a flare-up which ended with Webster sent off for appearing to flick a hand out at Jon Barden, who was one of three Sutton players booked in the incident. By that time, though, stoppage time had almost been completed and U’s were unable to make the most of the player advantage.

Bromley: M Cousins, K Roberts, H Kyprianou, B Webster, C Bush, L Trotter, N L’Ghoul(sub R Hackett-Fairchild 69) T Maloney (sub F Raymond 84), M Cheek, B Williamson, L Coulson(sub H Forster 62). Subs n/u J Alabi, K Edwards, T Purrington, L Vincent. Booked: Cheek, Webster, Bush. Sent Off: Webster.

Referee: Alan Dale