Byron Webster fired Bromley into League Two with a 4-3 win on penalties over Solihull Moors, after a 2-2 draw in the 2024 National League Play-Off Final.
Webster dispatched the final spot-kick to secure a first-ever promotion to League 2 and EFL for Bromley in a thrilling climax to a stunning contest, during which Tyrese Shade and Joss Labadie missed Moors’ opening two penalties.
Michael Cheek fired Bromley ahead in the 41st minute despite controversially fouling Alex Whitmore in the build-up.
Joe Sbarra equalised for Solihull in the 48th minute before Cheek netted his second goal for the Ravens from a 58th minute penalty – after he had been fouled by Nick Hayes.
Jamey Osborne again dragged Solihull level with a stunning 65th minute solo strike from the edge of the box, which forced extra time.
Not since Sutton United were promoted as champions in 2021 has a new club name graduated into the EFL, which meant that history beckoned for Bromley and Solihull Moors who have both never played within England’s top four tiers of the footballing pyramid.
Despite having lost influential winger, Ben Krauhaus to a foot injury which forced him off early in their comeback semi-final win over Altrincham, Bromley enjoyed an energetic start as Louis Dennis and Cheek both fired wide in the opening three minutes.
Dennis saw an eighth minute shot cleared after a long throw-in was knocked down on the edge of the box, but the 31 year-old’s on-the-turn effort was blocked by a Moors defender with a crucial clearance.
Solihull struggled to settle until Bromley’s Corey Whitely went down with an impact injury following a challenge in the 11th minute.
Bromley however refused to relent in their initial dominance but were denied a 20th minute penalty after Myles Weston went down upon entry into the box, having tripped up during a challenge from Osborne.
Solihull’s first shot of the match eventually arrived in the 24th minute as Jack Stevens intercepted a pass up Bromley’ right, and the ball fell for Sbarra whose shot was deflected into the palms of Grant Smith.
Bromley continued to control the first half as Weston curled wide in the 27th minute, whilst Whitely saw a shot saved by Nick Hayes nine minutes later.
The Ravens’ dominance was eventually rewarded in the 41st minute as Whitely played a pass through Solihull’s defence, which was intercepted by Whitmore but Cheek was alert to swiftly regain possession amidst contact and rifle in from a tight angle to put Bromley ahead at half-time.
Solihull manager, Andy Whing was incensed that referee – James Durkin allowed the goal to stand amidst Cheek’s foul on Whitmore, to the extent that he sent his players out early for the second half.
That decision soon paid off as Solihull looked more energetic on the restart which was duly rewarded with a 48th minute equaliser as Sbarra swept in unmarked after Smith deflected a save from Tahvon Campbell’s shot into Sbarra’s path.
Bromley soon reasserted their control and almost reclaimed the lead in the 57th minute as Weston volleyed wide on the bounce.
Seconds later, Cheek found himself fouled by Hayes as he met a pass into the box and duly stepped up to smash the penalty down the middle, which restored Bromley’s lead in front of their fans.
Solihull however refused to suffer a second Play-Off Final loss in three seasons and were level in the 65th minute, as Osborne broke forward on a solo run and rifled into the far-left corner beyond Smith’s reach to restore parity.
Tensions soon rose with the prospect of extra time looming as substitute, Jon Benton put a 75th minute shot wide for Solihull, with the West-Midlands club desperate to take the lead for the first time in this match.
Bromley thought they had snatched a 82nd minute winner after Dennis played Whitely into the box on the overlap, only for the 32 year-old to lash his shot into the side-netting to Solihull’s relief.
Olufela Olomola broke forward for the Ravens late in the 90th minute but fumbled the timing of his shot, which was deflected and the subsequent corner cleared.
Solihull almost punished those late wasted chances in the fourth minute of injury-time as Shade broke up the left, only to cut back for James Clarke but the defender curled over the top-right corner from 25 yards.
Jude Arthurs went up the other end for Bromley but his low shot was saved by Hayes as neither team found a later winner, which meant that the Play-Off Final went to extra time for a fourth consecutive season.
Bromley substitute, Alex Kirk proved the early livewire in the first half of extra time as he fired wide in the 93rd minute, then headed a corner onto the right post just two minutes later from a flick-on header.
Cheek almost achieved a hat-trick and a third goal for Bromley after he attempted a near 45-yard strike with Hayes off his line in the 102nd minute, only for the shot to fly wide across goal to Hayes’ relief as Solihull clung on until the extra-time break.
Solihull eventually showed some conserved energy on the restart as Sbarra won a free kick on the left flank of the box after he drew a foul from Callum Reynolds, but the set-piece was cleared for a throw-in which came to nothing.
Kirk’s luck meanwhile continued evade him as he picked up Cheek’s 114th minute pass and cut in from the right, yet managed to smash his shot onto the left post to the shock of everyone inside the stadium.
Whitmore almost snatched a 118th minute winner for Moors after a blocked free-kick was recycled into the box, yet the defender could only put his shot wide in the last chance of the match.
The Play-Off Final consequently went to penalties for a second straight season after last year’s showpiece also finished 2-2 following extra time – which Notts County ultimately won in the shootout on that occasion.
Shade was first to step up for Solihull but his shot was saved by Smith which Cheek then punished with a ruthless strike down the middle to put Bromley ahead after the first set of penalties.
Labadie and Ashley Charles missed the second pair of spot-kicks before Campbell fired Solihull level with a strike into the left corner, only for Olufela Olomola to restore Bromley’s lead.
Nana Boateng and Arthurs converted the fourth set of penalties before Benton fired Solihull level on 3-3 ahead of Bromley’s final spot-kick.
Ex Millwall defender, Webster stepped up and calmly dispatched his penalty down the middle to send Bromley into League 2 and the EFL for the first time in their 132-year history.
His successful penalty also meant that Webster added a second trophy to Bromley’s cabinet in three seasons, having previously lifted the 2022 FA Trophy as captain after Cheek netted the winner against Wrexham on that occasion.
Teams
Bromley: Grant Smith, Callum Reynolds, Bryon Webster, Kamarl Grant, Idris Odutayo, Ashley Charles, Jude Arthurs, Corey Whitely, Myles Weston (Kirk 60′), Louis Dennis (Olomola 82′), Michael Cheek
Substitutes: Lewis Thomas, Sam Woods, Alex Kirk, Olufela Olomola, Will Davies
Solihull Moors: Nick Hayes, James Clarke, Jamey Osborne (Labadie 95′), Kyle Morrison (Taylor 101′), Joe Newton, Alex Whitmore, Joe Sbarra (Boateng 111′), Callum Maycock, Tyrese Shade, Jack Stevens (Benton 71′), Tahvon Campbell
Substitutes: Ben Taylor, Mark Beck, Jon Benton, Joss Labadie, Nana Boateng
Referee: James Durkin
Attendance – 23,374
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