Second-half goals from Michael Cheek and Kamarl Grant saw EFL League Two debutants, Bromley win 2-0 away at Harrogate Town.
Cheek put Andy Woodman’s Raves in front with a chested deflection of Idris Odutayo’s 62nd minute shot.
Grant wrapped up a memorable EFL debut win nine minutes later with his 71st minute header, having rose highest to meet Jude Arthurs’ corner cross.
The result meant that Bromley sit fourth in the League Two table following the opening round of matches.
Faced with the daunting task of their first EFL match in 132 years of existence, Bromley weren’t fazed in a solid start which saw them press Harrogate high up the pitch.
Harrogate’s new signing, Zico Asare however nearly found the opening goal from Jack Muldoon’s pass, but the defender could only put his shot into Grant Smith’s arms via deflection.
Bromley nearly punished that wasted chance a minute later as Cheek met Josh Passley’s cross, yet his header was deflected and saved by James Belshaw.
Corey Whitley was the next player to test Harrogate but his shot was deflected by Anthony O’Connor, with Passley’s header from the subsequent corner saved by Belshaw after Levi Sutton cleared a shot on the goal line.
Harrogate soon established a foothold in the game as Asare and James Daly saw shots denied, whilst Bromley had to substitute Passley off in the 25th minute for Danny Imray due to an injury concern.
Simon Weaver’s Sulphurites however were forced into a goalkeeping change in the 41st minute, with Mark Oxley on for Belshaw, after the 33 year-old suffered an injury during a 37th minute collision with Cheek caused by Toby Sims’ poor backpass.
Bromley eventually managed to keep a clean sheet in their opening half of fourth-tier football, having had to survive five minutes of injury time in which they finished as the stronger team.
Harrogate though managed to keep the tie evenly matched early in the second half until O’Connor headed a cross clear in the 62nd minute, only for it to fall for Odutayo to shoot towards the right corner.
Cheek however got in the way and unintentionally snatched Bromley’s first-ever EFL goal for himself, with a chested deflection of Odutayo’s effort which sparked celebrations amongst their 364 away supporters.
Those celebrations soon got even better as a 71st minute corner from Arthurs was nodded into the top-left corner by a towering Grant, as Bromley doubled their lead in hot sunny conditions.
Play however was briefly stopped in injury time but Bromley clung on to secure their maiden fourth-tier victory on debut.
Post-match, Woodman explained that he was happy that his team has achieved their first goal and win in the EFL, which has allowed him to “park all of that now” and focus on the long season ahead.
Hear from the Gaffer after today’s victory đź—Ł#WeAreBromley pic.twitter.com/Y26O8hivJG
— Bromley FC (@bromleyfc) August 10, 2024
What’s Next?
Harrogate head to League One’s Lincoln City in the First Round of this season’s Carabao Cup on Tuesday 13th August, with kick-off scheduled for 7:45pm BST.
Bromley likewise will too be in action at the same time on that date, as Woodman’s Ravens host London rivals, AFC Wimbledon at Hayes Lane.
Teams
Harrogate – James Belshaw (Oxley 41′), Toby Sims, Anthony O’Connor, Zico Asare, James Daly, Levi Sutton, Dean Cornelius, George Thomson (Taylor 81′), Stephen Duke-McKenna (Folarin 70′), Jack Muldoon (March 80′), Matty Daly
Substitutes: Mark Oxley, Matty Foulds, Warren Burrell, Josh Falkingham, Ellis Taylor, Sam Folarin, Josh March
Bromley – Grant Smith, Kamarl Grant, Byron Webster, Callum Reynolds, Josh Passley (Imray 25′), Cameron Congreve (Dinanga 70′), Ashley Charles, Jude Arthurs, Idris Odutayo, Corey Whitely (Leigh 90+4′), Michael Cheek (Amantchi 90+4)
Substitutes: Sam Long, Lewis Leigh, Marcus Dinanga, Taylor Foran, Levi Amantchi, Bes Topalloj, Danny Imray
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