RAMPANT RAVENS IN THE MOOD
FOUR-STAR Bromley made it three wins on the spin as they kept up their pursuit of a playoff place.
A penalty double from Michael Cheek and goals from Corey Whitely and Harry Forster capped off an excellent display from the Ravens as they moved within three points of Eastleigh in seventh place.
It was a performance that had Ravens manager, Andy Woodman, purring.
“It’s fair to say that we have something in the dressing room right now, my lads have never lost sight of what we’re trying to achieve this season,” he said. “It’s the business end of the season and we just need to keep taking care of our business.”
Bromley got to the grips with the game much quicker than Solihull but it took until the 20th minute for the first meaningful effort at goal. Louis Dennis set up Whitely on the edge of the box but he screwed his effort inches wide wit Boot beaten.
Bromley did not have to wait long for the opener, however, an enterprising run and cross by Besart Topalloj was impeded by James Clarke and referee Scott Simpson wasted no time in pointing to the spot. Cheek made no mistake from the spot kick to give Bromley the lead.
In a rare attacking forage, Callum Howe drew a fine save from Reice Charles-Cook. The Bromley keeper had initially created the chance by spiling a set-piece but he reacted brilliantly to tip Howe’s follow-up shot around the post.
That was to be as good as it got for the Moors and their problems were compounded three minutes before halftime. Topalloj’s through ball found the on-rushing Whitely in acres of space and the midfielder made no mistake slotting low beyond Boot.
If half-time gave Moors boss Neal Ardley an opportunity to change things, his game plan was extinguished within ten minutes of the restart. A flowing Bromley move ended with Whitely being dragged down by Junior Tiensia inside the penalty area. Tiensia received his marching orders by referee Matt Corlett and Cheek crashed home the penalty.
The Ravens weren’t done there and they added a fourth in the final five minutes when substitute Forster and Dennis combined for the former to skip past two defenders and smash the ball beyond Boot.
Ardley did not shy away from a ruthless assessment of proceedings, commenting: “We lost battles at both ends of the pitch. We didn’t do enough in the game and I can only apologise to the fans.
“We spent five games trying to put ourselves in a good position and we let ourselves down with this performance.”
STAR MAN: Besart Topalloj (Bromley) ATT: 2,278 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Matt Corlett