RAVENS RALLY FOR A POINT!
MICHAEL Cheek’s second-half equaliser kept Bromley’s play-off hopes alive in an enthralling encounter at the Hive.
Cheek struck his fourth goal in five games just four minutes into the second half to cancel out Finley Potter’s opener for Barnet on the stroke of half-time.
It brought an end to their three-game winning run but Bromley head coach Andy Woodman was encouraged by the performance which would have brought all three points but for the form of Bees keeper Laurie Walker.
“I’ve always been a fan of him, but he made some really good saves today and he is a really talented young man” Woodman said of the Barnet stopper. “I couldn’t ask more from the lads who have hit the target and he pulled off the saves.
“The beauty of this team is that we are creating chances. In the second half, I thought there was only one team that was going to win it but we couldn’t get past Walker.”
Barnet made a promising start with plenty of possession and pinning Bromley back into their own half. Ryan De Havilland found David Moyo for the game’s first clear-cut chance but he headed just over from close range, before Idris Kanu saw an effort deflected off target.
The Ravens grew into the game and saw Corey Whitely curl a sublime effort just over the top corner, while Omar Sowunmi’s header from Ryan Stirk’s inch-perfect cross forced Walker into a splendid save at the near post.
Walker was called upon again to keep out Whitely’s deflected and Besart Topalloj’s header from close-range.
In-form Harry Pritchard gave notice of Barnet’sa intention with an effort just the wrong side of the post before the Bees made one count on the stroke of half-time when Pritchard’s dangerous corner saw Moyo’s flick header saved by Reice Charles-Cook but Potter reacted quickly to convert the rebound.
But the lead didn’t last long as Bromley were gifted an equaliser just four minutes into the second half. The Bees defence misjudged Ryan’s Stirk free-kick to leave Cheek to poke home his 13th league goal of the season.
Cheek could have won it three minutes from the end with an effort deflected over after Walker had brilliantly kept out Jude Arthurs’ shot.
Bees boss Dean Brennan said: “I am happy with the point especially for the players who are not available for us. I felt we scored at a key time, but I am more disappointed with the goal we conceded after what we spoke about at halftime. Bromley were all over the box and that’s where Cheek gets 20 goals in this division every season.”
STAR MAN: Laurie Walker (Barnet) ATT: 2,258 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Sam Mulhall