Match Report

Sutton were unable to build on last week’s win at Torquay when, in a game similar to many that have gone before this season, they matched a side close to the top of the table for long periods but were unable to make any impression on a solid Bromley defence and finished on the wrong end of the scoreline. Trailing to a debut first half goal from Ben Williamson, U’s put the visitors under pressure in the second half but had the wind taken out of their sails by a rare error eleven minutes before the end from skipper Jamie Collins, forced back to action sooner than might have been ideal by a back injury suffered by Ben Goodliffe in training on Friday and allowing a pass under his foot to leave Michael Cheek clear to beat Nik Tzanev.

Sutton had started well, with two early corners, one of which from Kyel Reid was headed powerfully goalwards by Craig Eastmond and tipped away by goalkeeper Ryan Huddart. However in the 14th minute U’s were rocked back when they conceded a free kick 25 yards out. Bromley’s prowess from set pieces is well known this season, and Chris Bush lived up to the reputation with a fine effort that was pushed away by Tzanev. The goalkeeper then produced a superb save to deny Joe Kizzi from the rebound, but, with the defence slow to react, was helpless to prevent Williamson firing in to the roof of the net from close range and continuing a good personal record against Sutton.

Much of the rest of the first half was forgettable and scrappy, and neither goalkeeper had a great deal to do, Tzanev having little trouble collecting a Kizzi header from a free kick. The second half saw U’s step the pace up, though, and Bromley had to be at their best defensively to preserve their lead. Louis John found himself crowded out as he tried to get a shot away when a free kick fell to him, and Tommy Wright, brought on early in the second half, also failed to get a shot in in similar circumstances thanks to a superbly judged challenge from Cheek. Harry Beautyman put a header wide, and was also just off target with a free kick, but the best chance came when David Ajiboye, whose pace was always a threat in a good battle with Ramarni Edmonds-Green, was put in on the right by Omar Bugiel and saw his pull back from the by-line flash across goal just beyond the onrushing Wright.

Despite being under pressure, Bromley did break out to create a clear chance of their own when Adam Mekki crossed from the right and Josh Coulson lifted the ball over the bar. However U’s weren’t so lucky when Collins allowed a harmless through ball to run under his feet, and Cheek went through unchallenged to shoot past the advancing Tzanev and give Bromley a lead they never looked like relinquishing.

Bromley: R Huddart; J Kizzi, J Holland, C Bush, R Edmonds-Green(sub M Klass 87); A Mekki(sub F Raymond 72), B Bingham, J Rees, J Coulson; B Williamson(sub O Tanner 90+3), M Cheek. Subs n/u T Najia, J Onen. Booked: Coulson, Edmonds-Green, Raymond, Kizzi, Klass.

Referee: Lee Collins