HEARTBREAK FOR LEADERS
TABLE-TOPPING Wrexham were rocked back on their heels by an added-time own goal at the Racecourse that denied them victory.
A fifth goal of the season for rookie striker Mike Fondop and a second of the campaign for Rekeil Pyke had appeared to set the Dragons on course for a fifth victory in six this season, but the Kent outfit hit back in the final half-hour with a controversial penalty and that late equaliser, much to the delight of their manager Neil Smith.
“I’m very pleased with a point,” he told The NLP. “I don’t think many teams are going to come here, be 2-0 down and still get a point.
“I’m a bit disappointed in the goals we gave away but the boys stuck together and it was very pleasing to get that result right at the end.
“I have an abundance of character in the squad but we need to stop giving the goals away like we did.”
On top in the opening stages, Wrexham might have led through Akil Wright, who steered a free header wide, but once the visitors found their feet, the home side were forced on to the back foot for a lengthy spell.
For the Ravens, though, Marc-Anthony Okoye, Omar Bugiel and George Porter all failed to hit the target with inviting opportunities and the home side went ahead on the half-hour.
There seemed to be little danger when Wright headed the ball upfield until Sam Wood miscued his attempt to find Gregory and Fondop intercepted before lifting the ball over the keeper to maintain his fine goalscoring run.
A continuing thorn in Bromley’s side after the break, Fondop appeared to be tripped by Gregory on 65 minutes, although referee Andrew Miller disagreed with penalty appeals and instead booked the striker for diving.
But Wrexham doubled their lead a minute later thanks to a smart finish from sub Pyke following some excellent wing play by Jordan Maguire-Drew.
Within four minutes, though, the Ravens grabbed a lifeline thanks to a dubious penalty converted by Frankie Sutherland and the home side were shattered at the death when Luke Summerfield headed Raymond’s corner past helpless goalkeeper Rob Lainton.
A rueful Dragons’ boss Sam Ricketts hid his annoyance well and said: “When you are 2-0 up in a game, especially at home where we have been as good as we have been, of course it’s disappointing.
“But we’re still top of the league by two points and we’re disappointed it’s not four.
“I’m expecting my front players to cause problems and they are doing it, but not enough and we need to manage the game a bit better late on.
“I’ve not seen the penalty but it has divided opinion with some saying it was soft and others saying there was contact. The own goal is hard to take and we have to learn from it.”