MORE SHOOTOUT HELL FOR RAVENS
BROMLEY lost their second successive penalty shootout as Dulwich Hamlet took the inaugural Glyn Beverley Memorial Cup in a tense sudden death finish.
Still recovering from their heartbreaking FA Trophy Final defeat by Brackley Town at Wembley in May, Bromley suffered again after they were held to a 1-1 draw by the National League South new boys.
Indeed, it took an inspired display from Dulwich keeper Preston Edwards to prevent them winning inside 90 minutes having controlled large periods of the game.
And it proved vital when a somewhat disjointed shootout of five missed penalties was finally decided by Hamlet’s substitute goalkeeper Amadou Tangara, who kept out Jake Goodman’s spot-kick.
Edwards started as he meant to go on with a brilliant save to tip over Jack Holland’s header before Frankie Raymond’s long range effort fizzed over the bar.
But with their first attack of the game, Nyron Clunis gave Dulwich the lead – the diminutive winger running on to Ashley Carew’s through ball and slotting past Ravens’ keeper David Gregory.
The Ravens continued to fluff their lines in front of goal and on the stroke of half-time, Bobby Joe-Taylor’s cross was headed against the crossbar by Dan Johnson.
Bromley upped the tempo in the second half but a combination of Edwards and poor finishing prevented them converting the dominance into goals.
Johnson just failed to turn in Reece Meekums’ cross before Taylor shot the loose ball wide of Edwards’ right hand post. Meekums was to turn provider when presenting Porter with an even better opportunity, slipping the front man through inside the penalty area but Porter could only dink the ball wide of the goal.
Edwards then had to be at his very best to tip a Porter header over the crossbar after he had connected with Taylor’s cross, and when Edwards wasn’t saving Dulwich he had his teammates to thank – Nathan Ferguson heading Marc Anthony Okoye’s goalbound header over the bar .
Bromley finally drew level ten minutes from time – albeit in farcical circumstances when Taylor’s low cross from inside the penalty area was sliced into his own net by Quade Taylor.
Porter thought he had won the game for Bromley in the last five minutes but his bullet header past Tangara was given offside.
As neither side could find a winner, the game was decided by a shootout – and Tangara ensured the Dulwich keepers remained on top.