RAVENS IN RUTHLESS GOAL-FEST
ARUTHLESS second-half performance from Bromley saw them romp to victory against a shellshocked Hartlepool side that bossed possession for large spells but fail to turn possession into goals.
A brace of penalties either side of the break from Frankie Sutherland sandwiched an Omar Bugiel strike and after Peter Kioso was sent off for Pools for a second yellow card, George Porter rounded off a fine afternoon for the Ravens with a fourth five minutes from the end.
It’s now three successive defeats for Pools after a promising start, leaving rookie boss Matthew Bates was left bemoaning the defensive lapses of his side.
“Every single goal was avoidable but I don’t want to say too much, we need to go away and work on it,” he said.
“We will look at it with a clear mind on Monday rather than react emotionally today.”
Trailing to an early Sutherland penalty on 12 minutes, converted after Adam Mekki had been bundled over in the penalty area, Hartlepool proceeded to dominate the game over the remainder of the first half. The closest they came to an equaliser came courtesy of Marcus Dinanga, who side-footed wide with just keeper David Gregory to beat. Hartlepool, however, were to be architects of their own downfall after the break as Bromley seized on the opportunities handed to them.
Bates’ defence failed to clear their lines again on 63 minutes, allowing Bugiel the freedom of the penalty area to smash the ball past Loach to double Bromley’s lead.
And if that goal was calamitous the third was classic self-destruction. Kioso shoved the marauding Bugiel just as he was about to pull the trigger, he recieved his marching orders and Sutherland rifled home his seventh goal of the season – all from the spot.
Bromley then ran rampage and duly added another before the final whistle. The excellent Richard Brindley and Bugiel combined down the right for the latter to cross for Porter to slide in and score at the back post.
Elated Ravens boss Neil Smith beamed: “After Tuesday night [4-2 defeat by Braintree], we needed a real performance, I stressed the need to keep a clean sheet today and make less mistakes. Roger Johnson came back in and was crucial in helping our organisation.
“We worked hard today and over the course of the 90 minutes we fully deserved the victory.”