LOAN STAR’S SIXTH GOAL HAS RAVENS FLYING HIGH

MAIDSTONE UNITED 0 BROMLEY 1

AN early diving header from on-loan Colchester United forward Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe was enough to see Bromley squeeze past Kent rivals Maidstone at Gallagher Stadium.

Ogedi-Uzokwe struck the winner after just 11 minutes, firing home Sam Wood’s cross from the left for his sixth goal of the season.

But Bromley also had goalkeeper David Gregory to thank for clinching the points, making a string of fine saves to deny efforts from top scorer Blair Turgott, Ollie Muldoon and an incredible stop from Jack Paxman in the dying seconds.

“At only one goal up we were always going to be under pressure but then Roger Johnson came on and we saw it out,” said Bromley manager Neil Smith.

“We had chances, but we were a bit unlucky. I think we deserved the win.”

Maidstone were struggling to find their rhythm but they did go close on two occasions in the first half. Turgott brought the ball under control just inside the box and his low shot was threatening to creep inside the right post until Gregory pushed the ball wide.

Gregory then did well to palm a curling effort from Wilson behind.

Bromley looked a threat on the break with George Porter bringing out the best in keeper Lee Worgan, who flung himself to his right to the brilliantly palm away.

Soon after, OgediUzokwe surged forward once again, this time he spotted the run of Bobby-Joe Taylor, who saw his effort smash against the right post.

Stones boss Harry Wheeler changed shape at half-time and this improved the Stones who kept the ball better than they had in the first half.

“I probably have to take a little bit of the flak for our first-half performance,” said Wheeler.

“We probably should have changed it but we stuck with what has been working so far. “We were definitely the better team in the second half but they hung on.” Early in the second half, Walton lifted the ball into Cassidy who spun into space and from an acute angle, Cassidy forced Gregory to tip the ball over the bar. And late on, sub Muldoon latched on to a loose ball about 25 yards out and his rising drive was well saved by Gregory. The Stones upped the ante in the dying stages with Muldoon’s free-kick from 25 yards looked to be heading into the top-left corner of the net but it crashed against the underside of the bar. And Bromley had another late scare when Gregory palmed Jack Paxman’s shot onto the post before the goalkeeper’s back and rolling to safety.